{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1230906,
        "msgid": "higher-import-tariffs-on-four-commodities-planned-1447893297",
        "date": "2002-06-26 00:00:00",
        "title": "Higher import tariffs on four commodities planned",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Higher import tariffs on four commodities planned Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government will increase import tariffs on four strategic agricultural commodities -- rice, sugar, soybeans and corn -- to help protect local farmers from less expensive imported products, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said on Tuesday.",
        "content": "<p>Higher import tariffs on four commodities planned<\/p>\n<p>Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n<p>The government will increase import tariffs on four strategic<br>\nagricultural commodities -- rice, sugar, soybeans and corn -- to<br>\nhelp protect local farmers from less expensive imported products,<br>\nMinister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a hearing with the<br>\nHouse of Representatives Commission III for agricultural affairs,<br>\nBungaran said his office had established a special team to<br>\nformulate the new policy, and expected them to complete their<br>\nwork in July.<\/p>\n<p>He earlier said President Megawati Soekarnoputri had approved<br>\nthe plan.<\/p>\n<p>Indonesia currently has a 30 percent import tariff on rice,<br>\nand between a 20 percent and a 25 percent import tariff on sugar.<br>\nThere are currently no tariffs on corn and soybeans.<\/p>\n<p>Bungaran said Indonesia's current import tariffs on the four<br>\nproducts were considered to be the lowest in the world, and had<br>\ncaused local farmers to suffer because of a massive inflow of<br>\ncheaper imported commodities.<\/p>\n<p>He said that other countries had imposed higher import tariffs<br>\non agricultural products despite being members of the World Trade<br>\nOrganization.<\/p>\n<p>He added that those countries also provided subsidies for<br>\ntheir farmers to help them competed in export markets.<\/p>\n<p>\"This is not fair, and we must immediately increase our import<br>\ntariffs to help our farmers compete in the market,\" Bungaran<br>\nsaid.<\/p>\n<p>He, however, said that the tariff team would also consider the<br>\ninterest of domestic consumers in determining the new tariffs.<\/p>\n<p>\"We want to help farmers but we don't want to burden local<br>\nconsumers,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>Farmers' organizations have repeatedly demanded that the<br>\ngovernment raise import tariffs on these four commodities, but<br>\nthe International Monetary Fund has opposed any increases.<\/p>\n<p>The IMF is providing the country with a multibillion dollar<br>\nbailout package.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/higher-import-tariffs-on-four-commodities-planned-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}