U.S., RI meet on piracy

U.S., RI meet on piracy

U.S. and Indonesian trade officials have discussed intellectual property rights and investment along with efforts to fight corruption and illegal logging in the Asian country, U.S. officials said in Washington on Wednesday.

The talks on Monday and Tuesday formed part of a regular dialogue under a bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which for some countries has resulted in a free trade pact with the United States.

Barbara Weisel, assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for Southeast Asia and Pacific affairs, and Halida Miljani, special assistant to Indonesian Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu, held "extremely constructive" talks, the USTR office said in a statement.

"The bilateral agenda included discussion about work under a joint action plan to improve intellectual property protection in Indonesia," it said.

"They also discussed addressing market access issues related to customs and agriculture and measures to improve Indonesia's investment climate, including the government's anti-corruption campaign, for which the U.S. government expressed its strong support."

The USTR office said that Weisel and Halida also discussed the possible pursuit of an accord to combat illegal logging, which remains endemic in Indonesia's rainforests. -- AFP