Protection for Chandra Asri still undecided<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Speculation on whether PT Chandra Asri
\nPetrochemical Center will win the government's tariff protection
\nis still looming after the first meeting of the reshuffled tariff
\nteam did not decide the matter yesterday.<\/p>\n
After a three-and-half-hour meeting, Coordinating Minister of
\nTrade and Industry Hartarto, who chairs the new team, told dozens
\nof journalists that protection was not a prime agenda in
\nyesterday's meeting.<\/p>\n
Tariff protection has become the subject of heated debates in
\nthe last few months following a proposal from politically-well
\nconnected Chandra Asri, the country's first olefin plant, for
\ntariff protection of up to 40 percent against imports.<\/p>\n
Amid controversy over the proposed tariff protection, the
\ngovernment announced last month the restructuring of the old team
\non tariff and fiscal affairs, which was formerly chaired by
\nMinister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and had the Minister of
\nIndustry Tunky Ariwibowo and Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono
\nas its members.<\/p>\n
The new team has Hartarto as its chairman, Mar'ie as vice
\nchairman and Tunky, Joedono, State Minister of Investment Sanyoto
\nSastrowardoyo as well as Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin
\nBaharsjah as members. All of them attended yesterday's meeting.<\/p>\n
Dozens of journalists packed Hartarto's office trying to get
\ninformation on Chandra Asri's case. Hartarto assured them the
\ngovernment will give the information about tariff protection
\ndemanded by Chandra Asri when the team finishes its evaluation on
\nthe case.<\/p>\n
\"We did not specifically discuss Chandra Asri today as its
\nevaluation is still underway. We hope it will be finished soon,\"
\nHartarto said.<\/p>\n
Answering a question on the possibility of giving tariff
\nprotection, Hartarto said the team will use President Soeharto's
\nview on protection as a reference.<\/p>\n
When presenting the draft state budget for the 1995-96 fiscal
\nyear before the House of Representatives earlier this month,
\nSoeharto stressed to gradually reduce tariff protection for
\ndomestic industries.<\/p>\n
He set three conditions for granting protection to domestic
\nindustries: It should be given for a limited period of time and
\nshould be gradually reduced; It must not be contrary to
\ninternational trade agreements; Its level must not stifle or
\nhinder the growth of downstream industries. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protection-for-chandra-asri-still-undecided-1447893297",
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