TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government will focus on discussing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) after US President Donald Trump scrapped a plan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Rizal Affandi Lukman, deputy of international economic cooperation at the Coordinating Economic Minister, said that the government will also focus on discussing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union.
"TPP member countries are also members of the RCEP. However, the scope of the RCEP is not as wide as the TPP. Perhaps, it would be better for Indonesia to Join the RCEP," Rizal said in Jakarta on Friday, January 27, 2017.
Rizal explained that the government will also strengthen bilateral cooperation with other countries. In a bid to improve exports, the government is currently looking at non-traditional markets, such as Iran, Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco.
"For Iran, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo will give a special attention. Therefore, we will not focus on a single forum," Rizal added.
Earlier, President Trump delivered his promise made during his presidential campaign by ordering his cabinet to withdraw from the TPP.
The RCEP consists of 10 Southeast Asian countries and six countries who signed free trade agreements with ASEAN countries. The US is not a part of the RCEP, while Japan and Australia are RCEP member countries. Should all members sign the RCEP agreement, it would be the largest free-trade zone in the world.
Included in RCEP member countries are South Korea, Japan, China, India, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Philippine, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.
RCEP member countries made up 46 percent of the world's population and contribute 24 percent of the global gross domestic product. However, the agreement has been criticized to lack protections for labors, human rights and environment.
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
