Trade Minister Asks Importers To Take ADVANTAGE Of European Alternatives Amid 19 Percent US Export Tariffs

DENPASAR - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso asked Indonesian exporters to take advantage of export alternatives to the European Union amid the implementation of the US export rate of 19 percent.

"We have a new market alternative in the European Union of 27 countries, we have trade agreements, then in IEU-Asia," he said after releasing the export of vandalism, cinnamon, and honey from Bali to Hong Kong.

Trade Minister Budi responded calmly to the United States' export rates, because according to him Indonesia had wide opportunities and at ASEAN the 19 percent tariff was among the lowest together with the Philippines.

Likewise, the United States tariff when exporting products to Indonesia is charged 0 percent in almost all products, because according to him, from the start many of their products have been purchased by Indonesia without them being charged tariffs.

The Trade Minister acknowledged that selling in international markets is not easy unless you have a trade agreement, but with Indonesia opening new markets in some of these countries, Indonesian products can enter the country.

"This year we have completed the Indonesia-Canada trade agreement, then the IEU-CEPA (Indonesia European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), the IEU-Asia, so the Russian and surrounding countries have made trade agreements, which only yesterday was the IEU-Japan," he said.

"So the IEU or European Union countries as many as 27 European countries now have a trade agreement with Indonesia," continued the Trade Minister.

Budi Santoso wants domestic exporters to take advantage of this great opportunity, along with that local governments are asked to move the community's economy so that local products enter standardization for exports.

"A big opportunity for us to enter markets into the European Union, later the rates will be zero percent, so many countries do not have trade agreements with Europe, there are not many in ASEAN and we are one of those who have entered into the agreement," he said.

Currently, in the midst of the MSME program, the Ministry of Home Affairs' idea of exporting more than 600 MSMEs has participated with the transaction value that occurred of 87.5 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp1.3 trillion.

Therefore, he encouraged people in areas that have product potential to be immediately accommodated and assisted by the ministry to find buyers abroad.