Japan seeks RI support on APEC liberalization<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Reuters): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on
\nThursday sought Indonesia's support for Japan's refusal to take
\npart in a liberalization scheme under the Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation forum (APEC), Japanese media said.<\/p>\n
In talks with Indonesia's Chief Economics Minister Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita in Tokyo, Obuchi said that instead of the early
\nvoluntary sector liberalization agreed in principle by APEC,
\nmembers should agree to honor the principle of voluntarism in
\nliberalizing markets. Otherwise there could be problems for
\ndomestic industry in some cases, Kyodo news agency quoted Foreign
\nMinistry officials as saying.<\/p>\n
Obuchi said this would be particularly true of fishery and
\nforestry products, two of the nine sectors involved, Kyodo said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar promised Obuchi he would convey Obuchi's request to
\nIndonesian President B. J. Habibie when he returns home Sunday
\nafter a four-day visit to Japan, Kyodo quoted the officials as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
APEC leaders agreed in principle on the liberalization scheme
\nat meetings in Vancouver in November 1997, but Japan is now
\nopposed, partly due to a group of ruling party lawmakers who
\nrepresent Japan's farming lobby. They oppose Japan giving in to
\nfurther trade liberalization and tariff reduction or elimination
\nin those two product areas.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar also expressed gratitude for a Japanese decision on
\nThursday to provide 400,000 tons of rice as additional aid to
\nIndonesia, Kyodo said.<\/p>\n
Half of this will be lent in kind, while the remainder will be
\npurchased with yen loans from Japan.<\/p>\n
The 200,000 tons to be lent in kind will consist of 120,000
\ntons of domestically grown rice and 80,000 tons of imported rice,
\nKyodo quoted officials as saying<\/p>\n
Japan provided 600,000 tons of rice to Indonesia earlier this
\nyear.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-seeks-ri-support-on-apec-liberalization-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}