More universal environmental laws urged
More universal environmental laws urged
JAKARTA (JP): A University of Indonesia law expert is calling
for more universal environmental legislation to stop countries
from using strict environmental rules as a way of protecting
their local industries against foreign competition.
Eman Rajagukguk, a staff lecturer at the university's School
of Law, said different environmental laws have also meant higher
transaction costs for exporters and importers.
Eman stated his case for harmonizing regulations to bolster
international trade, encourage market expansion and
specialization, which, he said, would strengthen economies and
improve competitiveness.
Both governments and manufacturers would benefit from this, he
told a seminar on environmental laws and their implementation on
Monday.
The seminar, organized by the Indonesian Center for
Environmental Law (ICEL), was attended by P.L. Coutrier of the
Environmental Impact Management Agency, Mas Achmad Santosa of
ICEL and students at the University of Indonesia.
Eman in his paper argued that Indonesia should tighten its own
environmental regulations in line with the trend now seen in many
parts of the world.
Though it could result in greater manufacturing costs, he
said, it is necessary if Indonesian manufacturers are to
penetrate the international market, where strict environmental
restrictions are increasingly becoming the norm.
He suggested that the government provide manufacturers with
incentives to compensate for the additional costs of complying
with amended environmental regulations.
He said countries that impose strict and costly environmental
regulations for their industries would impose the same
restrictions against imports, and would not allow the entry of
imports that failed to meet their criteria.
Thus, he said, manufacturers from countries with loose
environmental regulations will find it difficult to sell their
goods.
Eman acknowledged that the imposition of strict environmental
regulations has become an effective tool in protecting domestic
industries against imports.
The law professor said his proposal to harmonize environmental
regulations would be difficult to carry out due to varying
environmental, social and economic conditions around the world.
He noted strong opposition coming from countries with strict
environmental laws, such as the United States, who fear that they
will be forced to relax their own standards.
Given the increasing consumer preference for more
environmentally-friendly products, he said, strict environmental
regulations would not discourage investors as many have feared.
On the contrary, he added, products from countries with strict
environmental regulations would have an improved reputation and
competitive advantage. (pwn)