We want a zero tariff rate to be imposed on our commodities exported to all countries in Europe."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Susi Pudjiastuti wants a zero tariff rate to be imposed on Indonesian fishery commodities exported to Europe.
"We want a zero tariff rate to be imposed on our commodities exported to all countries in Europe," Susi stated here on Friday.
If Europe declines the request, the ministries will withdraw all fishery products and collect a fee to ensure their constant supply across the world.
As reported earlier, the People Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KRKP) had pointed out that the zero tariff rate imposed by export destination countries offered no benefits to micro-level actors, especially fishermen.
It is believed that the policy will only prove to be profitable to a few people, such as larger companies.
"From the perspective of the fishery business, the policy to impose zero tariff on Indonesias fisheries products in the United States is only profitable to a few businessmen in the downstream sector," Secretary General of the coalition Abdul Halim stated here, Tuesday (September 15).
He pointed out that the policy offered no benefits to the people doing business in the upstream sector.
The KKP had stated that Indonesias fisheries sector will significantly benefit from the United States. Washington DC has offered a policy that will offer special treatment to Indonesian fishery commodities.
The policy was put in place after President Obama, with the approval of the senators, signed a renewed Generalized System of Preference (GSP) scheme.
GSP is a dedicated scheme formulated by developed countries, through which the developing countries will be able to export their commodities at a low or zero tariff rate.
Indonesia is one of the several countries in the world that has been offered the GSP scheme by the United States.
The scheme was suspended in 2013 after senators in the United States did not approve it. After Obama released a new policy, the GSP scheme is valid from July 29, 2015, to December 31, 2017.
In addition, the KKP was keen to negotiate with Japan, especially to reduce the export fee levied on fishery commodities imported from Indonesia.
(Reported by Muhammad Razi Rahman/Roy Rosa Bachtiar/Uu.R029/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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