Natural rubber producers to open talks ahead of INRO meet

Natural rubber producers to open talks ahead of INRO meet

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Major natural rubber producers will decide
at talks here Friday whether or not to accept proposals made by
consumers for a global rubber pact now being negotiated,
officials said yesterday, amid reports that Indonesia might block
the accord.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC),
at a two-day meeting, will review the proposals by consumers
submitted at their first round of negotiations held in Geneva
last month, ANRPC secretary-general Sucharit Promdej said.

"In my view, it is too early to assume that Indonesia, or any
producer member will block the accord which is still being
negotiated as producers need more time to study the consumers'
proposals," Sucharit said.

The ANRPC's 25th standing committee meeting comes ahead of the
International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO)'s May 16-20
semi-annual council session in Kuala Lumpur, where both producers
and consumers are to hold informal consultations to iron out
major differences for an earlier conclusion of the pact.

Sutrisno Budiman, executive director of the Indonesian Rubber
Association was yesterday reported saying in Jakarta that
Indonesia, the world's second largest rubber producer, might
block the accord if it provided no solution to the industry's
woes.

ANRPC groups India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Sri
Lanka and Thailand.

INRO comprises the six producing countries -- Thailand,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka -- and 20
consuming countries, including members of the European Union, the
United States, Japan and China.

Officials said both sides have agreed with 80 percent of the
proposals in the new pact at their first negotiating round under
the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development.