United States Special Treats for Indonesian Steel
By : Ridwan And Aldi Firhand. A | Tuesday, September 04 2018 - 22:34 IWST

Metal And Steel Industry
INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The United States government gave an exception to the 25 percent import tariff on 19 Indonesian "carbon and alloy" steel and stainless steel products, following the Indonesian economic diplomacy to the US.
"In addition to convincing the US Government, we also mobilized support from the US business sector, especially from Indonesian steel and aluminum products importers," Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said in Jakarta on Monday (3/9/2018)
The strategy used, he continued, is convincing US importers that Indonesia deserves to be excluded from US global tariffs because Indonesian products have characteristics that are different from products in the US and have entered the US global value chain.
This decision was issued on August 2, 2018 after previously Indonesia also obtained exceptions for 142 applications for Carbon and Alloy steel products with a total volume of more than 6,784 tons and 1 request for Aluminum Sheet totaling 1,680 tons.
This product-based exception by the US is a concrete result after Enggar's meeting with US Trade Minister Wilbur Ross in Washington DC at the end of July 23-27 2018. At that time, Enggar led the Indonesian Delegation during a working visit to the US.
Enggar invited representatives of ministries / institutions, associations and business actors of Indonesia's main export products to the US.
The visit agenda included various approaches to the US Government regarding Indonesia's eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program which was reviewed and sought exemptions on US global tariffs imposed on Indonesian steel and aluminum products that had been implemented by the US since last March.
While the Director General of Foreign Trade, Okay Nurwan, said this exception was a concrete result of the Indonesian Government's efforts to synergize with steel and aluminum exporters to obtain exceptions on the imposition of 25 percent import tariffs on steel products and 10 percent of aluminum products.
There are still 12 requests for exclusion of Indonesian steel products with a quantity of more than 336,688 tons and 276 requests for exclusion of aluminum Indonesian products with a quantity of more than 367,351 tons that have not received a decision from the US Government, he said.
For this initial success, the Indonesian Government will continue to conduct intensive communication with the US.
This direct approach to trade partner countries such as the US is very important to maintain its momentum, especially in the midst of this kind of trade war, said Pradnyawati, Director of Trade Security, as reported by Antara.
Pradnyawati added that the Ministry of Trade continued to urge Indonesian steel and aluminum exporters to encourage their partners in the US to take advantage of the momentum after the visit of the Minister of Trade Enggar's work to the US by submitting exceptions to their products.
In addition, the Ministry of Trade also continues to monitor and remind the US about requests for exceptions to other Indonesian steel and aluminum products that are in the process.
Referring to BPS data, Indonesia's steel exports to the US in January-June 2018 reached 139 million US dollars, an increase of 78 percent from the same period in 2017.
While Indonesia's aluminum exports to the US in January-June 2018 amounted to 147 million US dollars, up 47 percent compared to the same period in 2017.
Read Also
San Francisco Prepares to Host a Successful APEC 2023 Summit
ZINC Boosts Galena Production Amid Market Short of Supply
Register Their Investment in Sorong, TGEM Will Seriously Build IGNITE…
The WIKA - ETI Consortium Will Handle EPC Process of STAL One Ecopark…
ZINC Boosts High Grade Galena Production
Today's Industry

Senin, 09 Juni 2025 - 14:22 WIB
Savyavasa and Permata Bank Launch Exclusive Foreign Mortgage Program
Savyavasa, a luxury residential development by Swire Properties and JSI Group under PT Jantra Swarna Dipta, in collaboration with Permata Bank, presents a new solution for foreign nationals…

Rabu, 21 Mei 2025 - 10:09 WIB
Indonesia, Thailand Sign MoU on Health Sector, Focusing on Global Capacity, Collaboration
As a part of President Prabowo Subianto’s official visit to Thailand, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on health sector, in an effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation…

Rabu, 21 Mei 2025 - 10:06 WIB
Indonesia, Thailand Deepen Cooperation on Security, Trade, and Regional Stability
resident Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed Indonesia’s strong commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Thailand during the meeting with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra…

Selasa, 20 Mei 2025 - 12:44 WIB
Boediman Widjaja's Technology Ready to be Adopted in Jababeka Industrial Estate (KIJA)
In an exclusive seminar entitled "A Great Step: Boediman Widjaja Story - Going from Indonesia, Thriving in Singapore" held at the President Lounge, Menara Batavia, Boediman Widjaja, Founder…

Jumat, 02 Mei 2025 - 10:46 WIB
Binawan and Government Support Indonesian Nurses in Europe through Scholarships
In the midst of the viral #KaburAjaDulu hashtag as a symbol of the young generation's disappointment with domestic working conditions, Binawan responded with real action: dispatching Indonesian…
News Comment