ASEAN will adopt new harmonized tariff system this year: Permana<\/p>\n
Adianto Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) plans to
\nimplement its own harmonized tariff system this year as part of
\nefforts to further boost intra-regional trade, according to
\nDirector General of Customs and Excise Permana Agung.<\/p>\n
Permana said on Wednesday that the proposed ASEAN Harmonized
\nTariff Nomenclature (AHTN), a classification code system for
\ngoods in international trade, would still be based on the current
\nsix-digit Harmonized System issued by the World Customs
\nOrganization.<\/p>\n
He said that, under the AHTN system, ASEAN countries will be
\nallowed to adopt an eight-digit level or 10-digit classification
\ncode system for their export products.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia would adopt a 10-digit code, with the
\nlast two digits to be used for domestic statistic purposes.<\/p>\n
Permana said that the new coding system would help simplify
\nand harmonize customs procedures in the ASEAN region.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the AHTN system can be implemented this year.<\/p>\n
\"Each of the ASEAN member countries is now preparing their
\nproposal about this plan,\" he told reporters after speaking at a
\nseminar.<\/p>\n
He also explained that, with the AHTN system, it would be
\neasier for the government to detect the influx of goods from
\nASEAN countries.<\/p>\n
There has been concern among local manufacturers that the
\nimplementation of AFTA (Asean Free Trade Area) earlier this year,
\nwhich cut down import tariff among member countries for a wide
\nrange of products to between zero and five percent, would cause
\nthe domestic market to be crowded with cheaper import products.<\/p>\n
Under AFTA, the government can introduce a non-tariff import
\nbarrier on a particular product, if the domestic market is
\nalready overcrowded, to protect the local industry from
\nbankruptcy.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei,
\nthe Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. But only
\nthe first six founding members of ASEAN had started AFTA, with
\nthe rest delayed their tariff reductions until between 2006 and
\n2010.<\/p>\n
The average tariff on intra-ASEAN trade is now down to 3.2
\npercent.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-will-adopt-new-harmonized-tariff-system-this-year-permana-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}