"Our step will be to demand compensation or take retaliatory measure against the United States for its refusal to bow to a decision of the World Trade Organization," Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will demand compensation or take retaliatory measure against US ban on clove cigarettes, an official said.
"Our step will be to demand compensation or take retaliatory measure against the United States for its refusal to bow to a decision of the World Trade Organization," Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said here on Monday.
Bayu referred to a dispute between Indonesia and the United States over US ban on clove flavored cigarettes.
The WTO has decided in favor of Indonesia against US ban on clove flavored cigarettes in that country.
Bayu said the US decision to ban clove cigarettes was not over the size of Indonesia`s exports of the cigarettes to that country, but it is more of a discrimination.
"It is not about big and small in exports but it is a discrimination. They ban the clove content in cigarettes but they do not not ban menthol cigarettes," he said.
Retaliatory measure is the last resort in resolving dispute in trade between WTO member countries.
The US government said it has taken steps in line with the recommendation of the WTO Dispute Panel by launching campaigns against menthol cigarettes.
The US government launched the campaigns against menthol cigarettes but did not ban consumption of the cigarettes as it bans clove cigarettes, Bayu said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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