Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan sought support for expediting the authorization for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) during his meeting with the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai.

"We urge Ambassador Tai to be able to push for the authorization process for GSP implementation by the U.S. Congress, considering the process has taken almost two years since the decision to extend the GSP for Indonesia was announced," Hasan noted in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday.

According to the USTR website, the GSP program supports economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of the 119 designated beneficiary countries and territories.

The meeting also discussed the plan for implementing the ministerial-level Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

Hasan expected that the discussion would focus on strategic and constructive policies to encourage cooperation in trade and investment.

Minister Hasan met Ambassador Tai on the sidelines of the G20 Trade, Investment, and Industry Ministerial Meeting (TIIMM) held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on September 21-23. The G20 TIIMM is part of G20 Indonesia's Sherpa Track that discusses six priority issues, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) reformation and inclusive and sustainable industrialization through Industry 4.0.

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"Indonesia welcomes every opportunity and forum between the two countries to discuss issues that are important in the Indonesia-US relations," Hasan remarked.

On the occasion, he expressed gratitude for the U.S. support to Indonesia in the 2022 G20 Presidency and congratulated Ambassador Tai on the success of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meeting in early September.

"Indonesia has decided to participate in all pillars of IPEF. We support IPEF to have concrete and viable achievements and provide tangible benefits. I hope that the IPEF negotiations would be completed on time with the spirit of collaboration and flexibility," he explained.

In 2021, the total trade value between Indonesia and the US had reached US$37 billion, an increase of 36.17 percent from 2020.

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Translator: Sella G, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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