8 Mei 2024 - Technical Assistance II
As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Indonesia is obligated to adhere to the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing. This agreement, a cornerstone of the multilateral trading system, seeks to ensure that import licensing procedures across member countries are transparent, fair, and non-restrictive to trade. It establishes a set of guidelines that countries must follow to implement an effective import licensing system.
In response to these requirements, Indonesia has designated several key agencies responsible for various aspects of trade compliance. For instance, the TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) Notification Authority and the Enquiry Point fall under the purview of the National Standardisation Agency. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, and the Food and Drugs Agency handle responses to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) enquiries. However, the WTO Import Licensing Procedures Database identifies that only officials in Geneva and the Ministry of Trade in Indonesia are designated as contact points for reporting on Import Licensing Procedures (ILP). This could potentially lead to oversight in the import licensing activities conducted by other governmental bodies.
To mitigate these risks and enhance Indonesia's capability to meet its WTO obligations, the Ministry of Trade, in collaboration with the ARISE+ Indonesia programme, has developed a comprehensive institutional framework. This capacity building activities include training session designed to bolster the capacities of officials from the Ministry of Trade and other relevant line ministries.
A pivotal element of this initiative was a workshop held in Bandung on 8 May 2024. This capacity building session was delivered by ARISE+ Indonesia's experts Loan Lee and Pablo Quilles from International Economic Consulting, under the leadership of Paul Baker. The workshop was inaugurated by Wijayanto, the Director of WTO Negotiation at the Ministry of Trade, who emphasised the importance of compliance with WTO agreements.
The primary objective of the workshop was to provide participants with a detailed understanding of the procedural aspects of WTO import licensing requirements. Through interactive sessions, participants engaged in team activities where they identified specific import licensing requirements and prepared a notification report for presentation. These exercises were designed not only to educate but also to foster practical skills in handling the complexities of international trade compliance.
This training is a step forward in strengthening the institutional framework necessary for Indonesia to meet its international trade obligations. Such initiatives underscore Indonesia's commitment to adhering to international trade norms and enhancing its role in the global market, ensuring that the nation remains a competitive and responsible trade partner.
