The tariff is part of an interim determination in the Office of the\nUS Trade Representative\u2019s Section 301 probe into imports linked to\nforced labor, with a final decision still pending.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Indonesian government has noted the USTR\u2019s recognition that\nIndonesia is actively committed to preventing and eliminating forced\nlabor through an established regulatory framework,\u201d Coordinating\nMinistry for Economic Affairs Spokesperson Haryo Limanseto said\nFriday.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia has cooperated throughout the investigation, which\ncovers excess manufacturing capacity and restrictions on goods produced\nthrough forced labor.<\/p>\n
The government participated through written submissions, public\nhearings and government-to-government consultations, Limanseto said.<\/p>\n
The USTR imposed tariffs following its Section 301 investigation\ncovering 60 countries and territories.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is among 17 countries and territories facing an additional\n10 percent tariff, alongside Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada,\nEcuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jordan, Malaysia,\nMexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United\nKingdom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also closely monitoring the USTR\u2019s designation of several\nIndonesian products for inclusion on the product exemption list,\u201d\nLimanseto said.<\/p>\n
The US is expected to announce the outcome of its excess-capacity\ninvestigation soon, with Indonesia awaiting the decision while seeking a\nmore favorable tariff treatment.<\/p>\n
Jakarta also wants Indonesian products covered by exemptions under\nthe Agreement on Reciprocal Trade to retain those benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are actively consulting with the USTR to secure the most\ncompetitive tariff rates possible,\u201d Limanseto said.<\/p>\n
To cushion the impact, Indonesia plans to simplify raw-material\nimport rules to reduce production costs and strengthen export\ncompetitiveness.<\/p>\n
The government is also expanding market access by maximizing existing\ntrade agreements, including IA-CEPA, IK-CEPA and RCEP, while pursuing\nthe I-EAEU FTA, IEU-CEPA and ICA-CEPA to diversify exports beyond the US\nmarket.<\/p>\n
The United States began imposing new tariffs Friday ranging from 10\npercent to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 major trading partners,\nincluding China, Japan and the European Union.<\/p>\n
Washington said the measures target countries deemed to have done too\nlittle to prevent imports made with forced labor.<\/p>\n
According to the USTR, the targeted economies account for about 99\npercent of total US imports.<\/p>\n
The European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland face\ncombined tariff rates of 10 percent or 12.5 percent, including existing\nmost-favored-nation duties, while the remaining 38 countries, including\nChina, are subject to 12.5 percent tariffs.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia may secure 18 US tariff exemptions: govt<\/p>\n
Related news: RI predicts US will charge 18 pct tariff after\ntalks<\/p>\n
Translator: Bayu Saputra, Resinta Sulistiyandari<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-lobbies-us-for-lower-section-301-tariffs-official-1784897445", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }