Economic Minister Responds to WTO Sanction against Indonesia
August 7, 2018 | 03:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution spoke about United States Government`s request to the World Trade Organization (WTO) upon sanctioning Indonesia with a USD350 million fine for ignoring the November 2017 WTO`s hearing.
“That case has been going on for a while, it’s been months, we were already asked to adjust our policy since the WTO verdict is already clear,” said Darmin when asked to comment on the WTO sanctioning Indonesia.
Furthermore, Darmin said that the government, in responding to WTO's decision, has revised the policies in the ministry level but would need additional time to issue a Government’s Decree or Law.
Read: U.S. Asks WTO Permit to Give Sanction to Indonesia
Previous reports suggest that the United States Government has officially requested the WTO to hand a USD350 million sanction to Indonesia, and was accepted by the WTO on Monday, August 6.
The case initially started in 2016 when Indonesia issued 18 policies that are considered as a non-tariff hindrance for several US and New Zealand agriculture and livestock products. The products affected include apples, grapes, potatoes, garlic, flowers, juices, dried fruits, livestock, chicken, and beef.
Indonesia defended that the policy was introduced to protect local farmers and breeders. In contrast, the United States and New Zealand deemed the policies were not in accordance with the agreement on tariff and trade.
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