RI Calls For Setting Up Trade Framework

Nusa Dua, Bali, Oct 4 (Antara) - Indonesia has called for the establishment of a framework of trade that will allow a number of products to support sustainable development. "The products available for such a plan are namely palm oil and rubber and they can support sustainable development," Indonesia`s Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said on Friday after launching environment-friendly cars that use biodiesel as their fuel source and which will be used during the APEC Summit. He pointed out that the formation of such a framework will be discussed at a ministerial-level meeting starting on Friday. Wirjawan said he hoped that there was a clear mechanism related to products that support sustainable development, including the imposition of minimum tariffs. "A minimum tariff must be levied on environment-friendly products. Although it will be non-binding, its framework has been widened," he said. Since the APEC Summit in Vladivostok, discussions on manufacturing environment-friendly products have already taken place, but these talks have not evolved into a binding commitment made by APEC countries. Wirjawan denied that the ministerial-level meeting would be used only for proposing products and not emphasizing on the proposed framework that can be accounted for. "It will only be for proposing products, but in a framework that can be accounted for, which had a clear structure and mechanism," he stated. The Minister also noted that it was hoped that the framework would not only promote sustainable and environment-friendly products, but also alleviate poverty. "The framework will support sustainable development and in turn reduce poverty, which would make it very popular," he said.