Plan to Join TPP Half-Baked: Faisal Basri
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Economic Observer Faisal Basri said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to join the US-initiated Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) in October was not a sound one.
According to Faisal, the government should have reviewed the plan with relevant ministries before expressing its interest to join the TPP.
“Instead, the President expressed his interest to join, and then the ministry said that they were still reviewing it. It should be the other way around,” Faisal said in a discussion in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Saturday, November 14, 2015.
Furthermore, Faisal explained that other governments decided to join the TPP because they wanted to seize the opportunity to have a larger market share in the United States, as well as seeking for supports in resolving dispute involving their countries.
“For instance, Vietnam joined the TPP because they wanted to seek supports related South China Sea disputes. Therefore, Vietnam saw the TPP as a solution,” Faisal added.
Earlier, the Trade Ministry revealed that it had reviewed the plan to Join the TPP, saying that the decision would potentially increase Indonesia’s export volume.
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