Asia-Pacific

Indonesian minister says no delay on ASEAN-China FTA

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-17 19:46
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JAKARTA: Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said on Thursday that the country will stick to its commitment in implementing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area on January 1.

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"Generally, we do not have any reason for not to implement the FTA, but (at the same time) we want to protect our national interest," he said after a cabinet meeting here.

Indonesian Vice Minister of Agriculture Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said on December 15 that the free trade would benefit Indonesia.

He made an example on the agriculture sector, which would have hike on its trade.

Indonesian Finance Ministry has said to reduce over 800 commodities' tariffs ahead of January 1. Under the free trade all import tariffs would be deleted.