950805

Indonesia calls

for AFTA agri

exemptions

JAKARTA: Indonesia will propose excluding 26 agricultural products when ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet this month to discuss which commodities a tariff reduction scheme would cover.

The reduction scheme is part of the implementation of the ASEAN Free-Trade Area (AFTA), the official Antara news agency said on Saturday.

"The 26 agricultural commodities are grown mainly by small-land holders and because of that we will not open the domestic market in order that farmers are not exposed to any risk," Agriculture Minister Baharsyah Syarifuddin was quoted as telling reporters.

The products, which include rice, sugar, milk and fruit, would be excluded from the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme, he said.

Syarifuddin said the list of commodities Indonesia wants excluded from the tariff reductions was shorter than other countries.

ASEAN agricultural ministers are to meet in Singapore from August 21 to 23 to further discuss which agricultural commodities the CEPT tariff reduction scheme would cover.

Under the CEPT scheme, ASEAN members are required to reduce tariffs to a maximum of five percent by January 2003.

However, Brunei suggested this week that the deadline be accelerated by three years to 2000.-Reuter