Susi Pudjiastuti: U.S.-China Trade War Should Benefit Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said that the trade war between the United States (U.S.) and China should benefit Indonesia considering the country did not affect by the U.S. high tariff policy, unlike other countries.

“Policy tariff is applied to other countries’ products, [so] it should benefit Indonesia. But the fact is it does not,” said Susi in her office, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 3.

The minister recalled her visit to the United States when she met Indonesian businessmen in an airport. The businessmen said that they would make exports to open broader markets in the U.S. because Chinese products were subjected to 100 percent anti-dumping duties.

“So, [they said] they want to buy from China to deliver it to the U.S. Buying, not producing. That’s actually not allowed,” she added.

According to the minister, imports on finished products must be halted so Indonesia could run domestic production. Indonesian anti-dumping tariff is 12-14 percent, while other countries at over 70 percent.

“This should be our country’s strategy policy on trade management. Otherwise, we will be the last, least benefiting from the trade war,” Susi underlined.

She reiterated that in 2001, the U.S. was agitated and furious because aquaculture industry in Mexico Bay and its vicinity was affected by the high import of sea production from Thailand and China, so the country increased the tariff up to more than 100 percent.

Susi opined Indonesia at that time should have risen by massively building ponds, but that did not happen. “What happened was certain civil servants, businessmen tricked anti-dumping duties, they got revenue quickly without working. Products from Thailand and China entered the U.S., exported under names of Indonesia. And the history recurs,” she said.

Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the practice recurred because Indonesians’ attitude did not change. “These habit of laziness and reluctance must be reformed,” she asserted.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO

Related: Trade War May Put Indonesia on Top of China Export Market List