Anticipating free trade<\/p>\n
The coming free trade era will provide opportunities but also
\nimpose limitations. It will also raise the prospect of
\nuncertainty. For those reasons it is not surprising that all
\ncountries are trying to have as strong a say as possible in
\ndetermining the course of the changes that are to take place.<\/p>\n
We may note that during the Uruguay Round meetings, new topics
\nwere also raised and old ones revived to ensure that the
\ninterests of the countries concerned were protected. As a
\nconsequence, the Uruguay Round meetings became protracted.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is very much of the opinion that the upcoming World
\nTrade Organization (WTO) meeting should concentrate on subjects
\nthat fall within the bounds of the organization's jurisdiction.
\nAny broadening of the scope of the subjects to be discussed would
\nlead to a repeat of the Uruguay Round experience. The
\nnegotiations would become protracted, boring and exhausting.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto's reminder during the opening of the 28th
\nASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in Jakarta last Thursday was
\nintended to prevent the upcoming WTO sessions from becoming as
\ndrawn out as those of the Uruguay Round.<\/p>\n
The free trade era offers bright prospects for countries that
\nare ready for it. Efforts to turn those prospects into reality
\ncan be made either by each country on its own or by influencing
\nthe negotiations at the WTO, which has the task of administering
\nand supervising the existing trade agreements and settle trade
\ndisputes among its members. We must be prepared.<\/p>\n
-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anticipating-free-trade-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }