Indonesian Trade Cooperation with Australia Under Review

Jakarta (Antara) - The Ministry of Trade will review trade cooperation with Australia in the wake of allegations that Australian intelligence agencies tapped the private cell phones of Indonesian state officials, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. "We will process and review (the cooperation). It becomes difficult when two neighbors cannot trust each other on issues, which affects economic cooperation," Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said here on Wednesday. Currently, Indonesia imposes a country-based system for cattle imports, which limits the countries permitted to export cattle to Indonesia to Australia and New Zealand. When asked whether the system will change to a disease-free-zone-based system, Gita said he supports an amendment to the Act to avoid limits on cattle imports and encourage imports from other countries. "Until now, we have permitted imports from only particular countries," Gita added. Gita noted that if cattle and its derivative products could be imported from other countries, product prices would be cheaper, especially if it is proved that the cattle are disease-free. "I know that cattle and other products can be cheaper if imported from other countries," he said. (*)