In trying to boost its volume of textile exports, the Indonesian government is seeking a bilateral agreement with the United States.
“Currently, the US imposes a 12.5 percent import duty for our textiles, while it imposes zero percent for Vietnamese textiles because they already have a bilateral agreement,” said Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta on Thursday as reported by Antara.
Indonesian exports to the US reached US$9.13 billion last year. The main manufactured products exported to the country were palm oil products, furniture, pulp and paper, handicrafts, electronics and aluminum products.
Read also: US firms seek better business climateThe ministry’s industrial resilience and international access director general, Harjanto, said that Indonesia had discussed various issues with the US through the Trade Investment Council (TIC) forum.
He explained that the TIC consisted of four working groups on industrial and agricultural products, illegal logging and associated trade, intellectual property rights, and investment.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and the US recently established a commercial dialogue--a forum that encourages the private sector to explore investment and trade opportunities in both countries.
“Currently, the dialogue focuses on several issues, including investment climate, trade expansion, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurship, clean energy and industrial cooperation,” Harjanto said. (bbn)
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