Indonesia, Japan to negotiate on EPA
2005-07-05
Indonesia, Japan to negotiate on EPA
JAKARTA, July 5 (Xinhuanet) — Indonesia and Japan will soon begin negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on July 14 in Jakarta, local media reported on Tuesday.
Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu made the statement based on the agreement of Indoensian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed in Japan at the beginning of June.
"The upcoming meeting on July 14 in Jakarta will be commenced with discussing capitalism and the framework of the meeting, but it has not touched the time-frame and type of products whose tariff would be decreased," Mari who was quoted by the Bisnis Indonesia as saying here on Monday.
Director General for International Cooperation of Trade Ministry Herry Sutanto said that the ministry would hold a meeting of the business associations in the near future in a bid to unify the views between the government and business sector in the negotiation.
The previous joint study by Indonesia and Japan concluded that the partnership could bring benefit to both sides.
The two countries have agreed to discuss 12 issues. In the sector of goods, the two sides agree to give protection and put them in exception list, such as wood and rice, he said.
The director said that there were a number of sectors now being prioritized to be negotiated, such as automotive, electronic, shoes, textile products and handicrafts.
