Briefing
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Subject: Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan
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Meeting
Ref. Ares(2018)5979569 - 22/11/2018
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Date: January 2012
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Place: Davos
Scene Setter
Your first official meeting with Minister Gita Wirjawan in his new capacity as
Indonesian Minister of Trade took place last December in the margin of the WTO
Ministerial in Geneva. During this meeting, Minister Gita showed an interest for
possible negotiations with the EU (he is very keen in upgrading the quality of the
Indonesian products and the education level of the population). However, he
asked more time for extended consultations with stakeholders in Indonesia
before entering in negotiations.
He also suggested that his services will be ready to engage in a scoping exercise
next spring and that he will be more explicit on the launch of negotiations in 2012
(procedure that requires the approval of the Cabinet) at your scheduled meeting
in Cambodia early April.
Moreover, in a letter of 10 January, Minister Gita he confirmed that domestic
procedures are underway and suggested the intensification of bilateral contacts
at all levels as well as the reinforcement of capacity building activities.
These indications came after the high level bilateral meeting held in Cannes last
November when Presidents Barroso and Van Rompuy and the Indonesian
President Yudhoyono welcomed the recommendations of the Vision Group and
agreed on the intensification of technical work with the aim at launching
negotiations in 2012.
Most recently, Indonesia has launched a number of new protectionist measures –
including in the areas of standards, export taxes and new pre-import shipment
controls. However, so far these measures have been mostly directed to non-EU
partners (notably China).
Despite all the outcries in the media, trade figures between EU and Indonesia are
up by 18% resulting in record high trade numbers of 21 billion euro (January-
November 2011).
Objectives
Reconfirm the committment of the Commission to a reinforced
substantive dialogue on trade and investment matters including the
negotiation of an ambitious trade agreement
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Briefing
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Subject: Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan
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Meeting
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Date: January 2012
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Place: Davos
If needed, remind the Minister about the need for the EU to proceed with
the preliminary technical work (scoping exercise) necessary before the
launch of the negotiations
Key Messages
I have appreciated our first meeting in Geneva and I share your views
expressed in your follow-up letter on the positive outcome of it.
I agree that we had a good discussion about the follow-up to the EU-
Indonesia Vision Group recommendations and I understand very well
the need for you to complete the domestic consultation process.
Looking at the most recent trade figures, it shows that the current crisis
in Europe has not affected trade with Indonesia. In 2011, our bilateral
trade is up by 18% to over 21 billion euro – resulting in a trade surplus
for Indonesia of 8 billion euro.
Business and students exchanges are on the rise and we started some
very interesting cooperation programmes with KADIN and APINDO in
support of our trade policy dialogue.
In this context, we hear Indonesia is starting trade negotiations with
South-Korea and Australia. How will this decision influence our bilateral
discussion on future trade negotiations? Does Indonesia still think that it
is realistic to aim for a start of negotiations in 2012?
As you know, in our system we need to finalise a joint scoping paper
assessing the level of ambition of each partner and identifying the areas
that should be included in the negotiation. On the basis of this
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Briefing
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Subject: Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan
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Meeting
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Date: January 2012
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Place: Davos
understanding we can go to our Member States and with their green light
we can officially launch the negotiations.
I would also be interested in hearing how your internal consultation
process is going? What kind of feedback are you receiving? When you
foresee to be ready for the next steps?
I have noted, with some concern, in recent press reports that Indonesia
plans to use standards and other means to limit imports. Such media
reports add to the perception that Indonesia is not open for business,
and we know that this deters European businesses from investing in
Indonesia. What reassurance can I offer to European businesses about
the trade and investment climate in Indonesia?
Contact person:
art 4.1(b)
DG TRADE C2
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Briefing
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Subject: Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan
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Meeting
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Date: January 2012
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Place: Davos
art 4.1(b)