Trade War Not to Affect Indonesia Directly, Senior Minister Says

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia’s chief economic minister Darmin Nasution said the country will not be directly affected by the US-China trade war.

“Basically we must not rush to a conclusion because it will be them who will be affected,” Antara News uoted Darmin as saying on Friday.

He could not confirm the long term effect of the tariff imposed by the US on imported products from China, saying goods that could not freely enter the US and China could go to Indonesia at a cheaper price.

“The positive side is if the products are not allowed to be sold there they may be brought here at a cheaper price and this is a positive for our consumers. Businessmen who have the same products however will compete tighter,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has signed an import barrier policy by imposing a 25 percent import tariff.

China has indicated it is ready to respond to the US policy by imposing import tariffs of its own on prime US export products such as pork, recycled aluminium, steel pipe, fruits and wine.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said the trade war was against trade principles and there would be a winner out of it.

In view of that, he hoped China and the US would prioritise rational instead of emotional behaviour, given the two countries` trade relations have developed well so far. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)