RI faces dumping charges

The government is seeking to resolve a trade dispute with South Korea, which has accused Indonesian exporters of wood-free paper products of dumping practices, director general of international cooperation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Pos M. Hutabarat said.

Pos said the government had submitted the case to the dispute settlement body of the World Trade Organization.

The South Korean government has imposed since Nov. 7, 2003, anti-dumping tariffs of 2.8 to 8.22 percent on the products, causing a 34.31 percent decline in Indonesia's wood-free paper exports to South Korea, from US$102 million in 2002 to $67 million last year.

Pos said Indonesia was also facing dumping charges from other nations, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea and the U.S.

He said Indonesia had a very good chance of winning its case against South Korea, after meeting with the legal team.

Of its 102 trade disputes since 2000, Indonesia has won 40 cases and lost 49, while 11 cases are pending and two were dropped. -- JP