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.