Technical Assistance I
Free trade is like a double-edged sword. The open market offers great export opportunities, but at the same time, it could also pose a threat to the domestic industry from import surges that could cause serious injury to the industry. Thus, the World Trade Organization was established in 1995 to regulate and facilitate international trade.
To implement the rights and obligations as stated in the WTO Agreement, as well as to protect the domestic industry, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) established the Indonesian Safeguards Committee (KPPI) under the Ministry of Trade in 2003 through Presidential Decree No. 84 of 2002 regarding "Measures for Safeguarding Domestic Industries from Surges in Imports". The decree was then reinforced with the issuance of the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 34 of 2011 (PP 34/2011) concerning "Antidumping Measures, Countervailing Measures, and Safeguard Measures".
Despite the limited number of KPPI investigators, Indonesia is the most active country in the world in imposing Safeguard Measures and is currently ranked first with a total of 28 impositions, according to WTO data issued in December 2021. Therefore, strengthening the capacity of the investigators is crucial to ensure quality and efficient case handling and safeguard investigation.
More than 60 officials from the Indonesian Safeguards Committee (KPPI), relevant directorates within the Ministry of Trade, and the private sector participated in Safeguards Workshop organised by KPPI with support from ARISE+ Indonesia, Friday (10/06).
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of KPPI, Mr Mardjoko, said that the workshop aimed to capacitate the Ministry of Trade, particularly the KPPI investigators, to initiate and impose safeguard measures in conformity with WTO guiding principles and requirements.
The workshop would also equip the Directorate of Trade Defense (DPP) to defend such investigations and the private sector to lodge safeguard applications.
Before the workshop, KPPI investigators participated in a four-day training with more in-depth case study exercises, 6-9 June 2022.
The ARISE+ Indonesia Trade Remedy Senior Expert, Gustav Brink, delivered both the training and the workshop on safeguard investigation procedures, public interest, rebalancing, and compensation.
