ID :
95588
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/95588
The shortlink copeid
HOUSE: ACFTA AGREEMENT THREATENS INDONESIA'S 11 INDUSTRIAL SECTORS
Jakarta, Dec 17 (ANTARA) - A lawmaker warned on Thursday the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement scheduled for 2010 will threaten Indonesia`s 11 industrial sectors.
"The government must protect the 11 sectors, otherwise it (the implementation of ACFTA agreement) will weaken the industrial sector and lead to massive layoffs," chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission VI Airlangga Hartarto said in a press conference.
The House called the press conference to convey its stand on the planned implementation of the ACFTA agreement.
The 11 industrial sectors included textiles, food and beverages, petrochemicals, synthetic fiber, electronic cable and electricity instruments, machinery, engineering services, and iron and steel.
Airlangga said the House had studied the impact of the gradual implementation of the ACFTA agreement since 2005.
A two-way trade between Indonesia and China significantly favored the latter with the former suffering a deficit of US$3.61 billion in 2008, he said.
In the manufacturing sector, Indonesia suffered a deficit of US$7.61 billion in its trade with China in 2008, he said.
He warned of imbalance in Indonesia`s foreign trade if the agreement was implemented because it required the country to liberalize the import of 8,097 different goods as of January 2010.
The agreement would threaten Indonesia`s 11 industrial sectors, the more so because most of Chinese products were sold at lower prices as a result of dumping practices.
Therefore, he added, the House wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday calling for a postponement of the ACFTA agreement.
In addition, the House also had asked the government to protect local products by imposing non-tariff barriers before the ACFTA agreement was put into force. ***2***
T.M-AF
"The government must protect the 11 sectors, otherwise it (the implementation of ACFTA agreement) will weaken the industrial sector and lead to massive layoffs," chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission VI Airlangga Hartarto said in a press conference.
The House called the press conference to convey its stand on the planned implementation of the ACFTA agreement.
The 11 industrial sectors included textiles, food and beverages, petrochemicals, synthetic fiber, electronic cable and electricity instruments, machinery, engineering services, and iron and steel.
Airlangga said the House had studied the impact of the gradual implementation of the ACFTA agreement since 2005.
A two-way trade between Indonesia and China significantly favored the latter with the former suffering a deficit of US$3.61 billion in 2008, he said.
In the manufacturing sector, Indonesia suffered a deficit of US$7.61 billion in its trade with China in 2008, he said.
He warned of imbalance in Indonesia`s foreign trade if the agreement was implemented because it required the country to liberalize the import of 8,097 different goods as of January 2010.
The agreement would threaten Indonesia`s 11 industrial sectors, the more so because most of Chinese products were sold at lower prices as a result of dumping practices.
Therefore, he added, the House wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday calling for a postponement of the ACFTA agreement.
In addition, the House also had asked the government to protect local products by imposing non-tariff barriers before the ACFTA agreement was put into force. ***2***
T.M-AF
