Australia plays down trade friction with Indonesia<\/p>\n
SYDNEY (AFP): Trade Minister Mark Vaile Wednesday played down
\nconcerns that Australian imports to Indonesia could be cut back
\nover the government's stance on East Timor.<\/p>\n
Indonesian wheat, textile, sugar, and pulp and paper importers
\nhave reportedly warned they will find alternatives to Australian
\nimports, but Vaile said no action had been taken.<\/p>\n
In fact, two shipments of wheat were on their way to Indonesia
\nand he knew of only one small miller that had threatened to look
\nat alternative sources.<\/p>\n
Vaile said Jakarta had been concerned its exports could be
\ndisrupted because of union blockades in Australia, but they were
\nlifted when Indonesia agreed to allow United Nations peacekeepers
\ninto East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"That in turn means that there won't be any threat to the
\nsecurity of supply of those important foodstuffs to Indonesia,\"
\nhe told reporters.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's prime responsibility was to feed its population of
\n211 million, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Australia being close is one of the principal and most
\neconomic suppliers of quality food for their population and it is
\nvery, very important that we maintain that.\"<\/p>\n
Two-way trade between Australia and Indonesia is worth about
\nA$5.5 billion (US$3.52 billion) annually but the Indonesians
\nenjoy a $1.4 billion trade surplus, largely due to Australian
\nimports of crude oil and petroleum products.<\/p>\n
Vaile dismissed suggestions that Indonesian Trade Minister
\nRahardi Ramelan had scuppered a meeting arranged between them at
\nthis week's ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) ministerial meeting in
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
Ramelan is expected in Singapore Thursday but has to return to
\nJakarta on Friday for a special parliamentary meeting.<\/p>\n
\"I don't take it as a rebuff, I accept that the domestic
\npolitical circumstance in Indonesia is in a very delicate and
\nsensitive state at the moment,\" Vaile said.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard also hosed down trade friction
\nbetween the two countries, instead talking up the importance of
\neconomic ties.<\/p>\n
\"It would be too alarmist and absolutely premature to be
\ntalking about millions or billions of dollars of trade being at
\nrisk,\" he told CNN.<\/p>\n
\"I believe there are people in both countries who see the
\nwisdom of retaining economic links.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-plays-down-trade-friction-with-indonesia-1447893297",
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