Asian Free Market for Textile and Steel Set to Begin Next Year

11/12/2009 12:00 - 552 Views

Jakarta: The Industry Department said free trade mechanism on textile and steel should not be delayed when the Free Trade Agreement between the Association of South East Asian Nations and China takes effect on January 1st next year.

Speaking a day after a meeting with business associations on which sectors should have longer protection from the government, Minister MS Hidayat said on Tuesday (8/12) there are about four or five sectors eligible for a delay, but “Textile and steel I guess should (go on).”

In the meeting the government was represented also by head of the Fiscal Policy of the Finance Department Anggito Abimanyu, Director General of Foreign Trade Gusmardi Bustami and Head of the Anti-Dumping Commission Halida Miljani.

Hidayat said his office have agreed with the Finance Departement and the Trade Department to work on the details of the plan before presenting their the plan to the Coordinating Ministry for the Economics and later to the government at a cabinet meeting level with President Yudhoyono. Hidayat said the free trade agrrement to began based on plans next year.

IQBAL MUHTAROM

Tuesday, 08 December, 2009 | 15:50 WIB

Source: www.tempointeractive.com