APEC unresolved on info technology<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat & Prapti Widinugraheni<\/p>\n
MANILA (JP): APEC senior officials were still wrestling with
\nan accord yesterday aimed to free trade on information technology
\nproducts through the World Trade Organization (WTO).<\/p>\n
Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Federico Macaranas
\nsaid yesterday the issue would be taken up today by ministers of
\nthe Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.<\/p>\n
\"The Joint Ministerial Meeting will be discussing the matter,\"
\nhe said at the end of an informal APEC senior officials meeting.<\/p>\n
The United States is pushing the forum to adopt an information
\ntechnology agreement to eliminate tariffs in this sector by the
\nyear 2000.<\/p>\n
Supporters of this initiative argue that further
\nintensification of technological and development cooperation
\nwould require rapid exchanges of information which could only be
\nfacilitated by liberalizing information technology.<\/p>\n
APEC's endorsement of such an initiative would give strong
\npolitical impetus for the WTO to adopt an information technology
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
While APEC members have expressed their general support for
\nthe liberalization of information technology, several countries
\nhave indicated their reluctance to formalize the initiative.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian foreign ministry's director general for foreign
\neconomic relations, Sumadi Brotodiningrat, revealed yesterday
\nthat senior officials had different perceptions on how support
\nfor the initiative should be stated.<\/p>\n
He said some countries wanted it declared within the final
\njoint ministerial statement while others, like Indonesia, did not
\nthink it was necessary to stipulate it as an individual theme but
\nas part of the forum's overall liberalization plan.<\/p>\n
APEC ministers begin their eighth annual meeting here today
\nand are expected to produce three major documents by the end of
\ntheir meeting tomorrow. The documents are expected to lay down a
\ncourse of trade liberalization for member states.<\/p>\n
APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
\nKong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
\nGuinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
\nand the United States.<\/p>\n
\"We can accept the liberalization of information technology
\nproducts in APEC,\" Sumadi said, adding that it should not be
\nsingled out unduly.<\/p>\n
He said some countries wanted to place such a clause
\n\"everywhere\" in the documents formulated for the ministerial
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Macaranas said that apart from the actual format of the
\nsupport for the initiative, APEC officials were yet to draft a
\nstatement with suitable language for China and Taiwan who are not
\nmembers of the WTO.<\/p>\n
Many economies are extremely interested in the liberalization
\nof information technology. But the problem is that some members
\nare still outside the WTO, which causes differences in
\npriorities, Macaranas said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-unresolved-on-info-technology-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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