Indonesia has time to adjust itself to GATT guidelines<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono is convinced
\nthat Indonesia will be ready to comply with all the provisions of
\nGATT when the World Trade Organization (WTO) is activated next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said after meeting with a group of officials from Morocco
\nyesterday that the seven years of Uruguay Round negotiations,
\ngave ministers time to prepare for the market opening steps
\nrequired to meet the new GATT rules.<\/p>\n
\"Our ongoing deregulation process will enable us to face the
\nworld's freer-trade climate,\" he said, adding that new efforts
\nwill be made soon.<\/p>\n
Based on the final declaration of the new global trade accord,
\nwhich was signed by trade ministers from 111 countries last week,
\nthe WTO Agreement will go into force on Jan. 1 next year, giving
\nthe countries at least eight months to prepare.<\/p>\n
\"I am not pessimistic, but we definitely need to use the
\nremaining time to prepare ourselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Advantages<\/p>\n
Joedono explained that even though several points of the
\nMarrakesh Declaration did not meet Indonesian expectations,
\nIndonesia benefits from many of the new rules.<\/p>\n
He said the stipulation allowing a five-year grace period
\nbefore the new rules on intellectual property rights and
\ninvestment regulation become fully effective is an example.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia had initially requested this be a 10-year period,
\nbut five years was what we got,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that in the long run this will be an advantage for the
\ncountry since intellectual property rights of Indonesian
\ncomposers and designers will also be protected.<\/p>\n
\"This will increase our competitive edge on the world market,\"
\nJoedono said.<\/p>\n
In dealing with industrial market access, Indonesia has
\ncommitted to gradually reducing import tariffs over the next 10
\nyears and will set tariffs at a maximum of 40 percent.<\/p>\n
\"So we have 10 years to quickly strengthen our industries
\nbefore they enter the world's free-trade market,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In spite of the GATT members final agreement, Joedono said he
\nwas disappointed with the fact that commodities such as rubber,
\ncoffee, tea, chocolate, copper, aluminum and oil, were not
\nincluded in the GATT talks.<\/p>\n
\"Many developing countries still rely on these commodities as
\na main source of income, but they were overlooked. The agreement
\nwas strictly limited to handling the products of sophisticated
\nindustries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Joedono also expressed anxiety that the WTO, the fine points
\nof which are still being hammered out, will generate new
\nprotectionist measures.<\/p>\n
\"Several developed countries have demanded the inclusion of
\nsocial clauses -- such as labor and environmental issues -- into
\ntrade affairs. If they are fulfilled and reflected in the rules
\nof the WTO, it will be a disadvantage to developing countries,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions on the Moroccan group, Joedono
\nexplained that the delegation, led by Minister of Economy Hassan
\nBelcoura, is observing deregulation policy in countries which are
\nconsidered successful by the World Bank.<\/p>\n
The group included officials from the ministries of industry,
\ntrade, agriculture and finance and executives of the Chamber of
\nCommerce. (10)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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