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Indonesia asks Ross for greater US market access as GSP review to conclude soon
The government strongly pushed Ross to complete the review before the end of this year.
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US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross shakes hand with Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartato at the coordinating ministry's office in Jakarta on Oct. 6. (Kompas.com/Mutia Fauzia)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration has asked a visiting United States official for greater access to the latter’s market as both countries expect to finalize a trade preference facility review before Christmas.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government had conveyed the aspiration to have greater access for Indonesian furniture and textile products during a discussion between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday. In return, Indonesia will increase its wheat and cotton purchases from the US.
“Wilbur Ross said that once the Generalized System of Preference [GSP] review was already completed, we could talk about additional [trade agreements],” Airlangga said.
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has been reviewing Indonesia’s eligibility for receiving the GSP facility for more than one year. The facility gives privilege to developing economies to export their products to the US with lower duties up to zero percent.
Washington has decided to review Indonesia’s eligibility along with those of other countries due to the wide trade surplus the latter has constantly booked against the former.
During the talks with Ross, the government strongly pushed Ross to complete the review before the end of this year, Airlangga said.
“We will send our delegations [to the US] in December so that it can be concluded before Christmas,” he said at the palace.
