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Indonesian minister, businesspeople fly to US to begin trade mission amid war
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Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
T
he government will begin its trade mission to the United States on Monday to boost Indonesia's commerce with the world's largest economy amid the heightened global trade war.
The mission, led by Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, will lobby Washington following the US government's policy to review its generalized system of preferences (GSP) for Indonesia.
The US government deemed that Jakarta had implemented numerous trade and investment barriers that had serious negative effects on US commerce.
US Trade Representative (USTR) data shows that in 2016, Indonesia was the US' 35th largest goods export market, however the US had a $13.2 billion trade deficit.
Minister Enggartiasto is scheduled to meet US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer this week to discuss the GSP review. Enggartiasto will also meet with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
Aside from discussing the GSP issue, the trade mission also aims to expand opportunities for Indonesian exporters.
For this purpose, the minister brought along several Indonesian business representatives to the US, including from the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Indonesian Textile Association (API) and Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi), among others. (evi)
