Local industries concerned about WTO talks progress<\/p>\n
Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Local industry players were concerned that the discouraging
\nprospects in the current negotiation round in the World Trade
\nOrganization (WTO) would result in uncertainty for the country's
\nbusiness climate, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
\n(Kadin) said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The lack of progress in the WTO talks is already pushing many
\ncountries in the region to pursue free trade agreements (FTAs),\"
\nsaid Kadin chairman Mohamad S. Hidayat in his speech during a
\nworkshop Formulating Strategic Development Position ahead of WTO
\n6th Ministerial Meeting.<\/p>\n
A successful WTO 6th Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong next
\nDecember would be a significant achievement in order that the
\nworld had a fairer and more transparent global trading system.<\/p>\n
However, the ongoing negotiation round under the so-called
\nDoha Development Agenda (DDA) has fallen behind schedule, casting
\ndoubts over the prospects for the Hong Kong meeting and prompting
\nfurther uncertainty in the global trading system, as countries
\nwould likely turn to regional and bilateral agreements.<\/p>\n
In his speech read out by Kadin's committee for international
\ntrade chair Shinta W. Kamdani, Hidayat said that FTAs might boost
\nbilateral trade and cooperation efforts, but they could also pose
\na problem for businesses, especially those operating across many
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\"I am talking about the effects arising from the different
\nrules of origin that underpin these many different bilateral
\nagreements. They are complicated for business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the upcoming talks, he added, \"I would appeal to our
\ngovernment officials not to lose sight on where we are going (in
\nterms of the) details of the negotiations. WTO process is vital
\nbecause it provides us with a greater chance to put the world on
\nequal terms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Malaysia-based Third World Network (TWN) director
\nMartin Khor said countries involved in the trade negotiations
\nshould have a strong trade and development strategy.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia as a big country should be able to put development
\nissues in the forefront of negotiations ahead of the Hong Kong
\nmeeting and afterwards,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Indonesian Ambassador to the WTO Gusmardi
\nBustami, development issues were already at the forefront but
\nadmitted the progress was slow.<\/p>\n
\"It's difficult to push special and differential treatments.
\nThe trick is in making them easier for implementation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The workshop, held by the ministry of foreign affairs,
\nministry of trade, Kadin and the Third World Network, aimed to
\nproduce recommendations for the country's negotiating team at the
\nend of the two-day event, ahead of the Hong Kong meeting.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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