Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Without the US presence in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Indonesia should no longer contemplate joining the agreement, according to Chief of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Rosan Roeslani.
Roeslani further stated in Jakarta on Friday that Indonesia had planned to join the partnership, as it opens up access to the free market, which would ultimately facilitate the country's trade activities.
"I think we should no longer discuss considerations to join the TPP. The US has left, so why should we join it now?" he said after speaking at a public lecture themed "US Economic, Business and Political Policies under Trump's Presidency: Its Impact on Indonesia" at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Under the current circumstances, he believes that Indonesia should focus on strengthening trade partnerships with other nations rather than having lengthy deliberations on joining the TPP.
"We also have trade agreements with other countries, such as Australia, and the European Union-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement," he remarked.
The TPP is a trade cooperation agreement initiated by the US, which has been signed by 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US.
However, the US has officially withdrawn from the deal, as President Donald Trump signed the documents on the first day of his presidency.
According to a statement cited from the White House's official website, the strategy was a form of effort to protect the US workforce.
The potential policies that may be established by Trump in future have raised concerns in the global community, including in Indonesia.
Roeslani, however, believed that it does not always have to be linked to its negative effects.
"These policies surely bear two sides, and it would be better for us if we look at the opportunities that can be seized from them rather than solely highlighting the threats," he affirmed.
Regardless of the policies that might be laid down by President Trump, Indonesia should be able to utilize them as opportunities to raise its competitiveness, he concluded. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2017
Roeslani further stated in Jakarta on Friday that Indonesia had planned to join the partnership, as it opens up access to the free market, which would ultimately facilitate the country's trade activities.
"I think we should no longer discuss considerations to join the TPP. The US has left, so why should we join it now?" he said after speaking at a public lecture themed "US Economic, Business and Political Policies under Trump's Presidency: Its Impact on Indonesia" at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Under the current circumstances, he believes that Indonesia should focus on strengthening trade partnerships with other nations rather than having lengthy deliberations on joining the TPP.
"We also have trade agreements with other countries, such as Australia, and the European Union-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement," he remarked.
The TPP is a trade cooperation agreement initiated by the US, which has been signed by 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US.
However, the US has officially withdrawn from the deal, as President Donald Trump signed the documents on the first day of his presidency.
According to a statement cited from the White House's official website, the strategy was a form of effort to protect the US workforce.
The potential policies that may be established by Trump in future have raised concerns in the global community, including in Indonesia.
Roeslani, however, believed that it does not always have to be linked to its negative effects.
"These policies surely bear two sides, and it would be better for us if we look at the opportunities that can be seized from them rather than solely highlighting the threats," he affirmed.
Regardless of the policies that might be laid down by President Trump, Indonesia should be able to utilize them as opportunities to raise its competitiveness, he concluded. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2017