ASEAN ministers urged to expedite regional trade integration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has called on the economic and trade ministers of ASEAN countries to intensify efforts to complete the negotiation on upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) this year.

The call was made by Indonesia's Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti during a virtual ministerial meeting on ATIGA, which was presided over by Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong on Friday.

"We expect all parties involved in the negotiation, including the negotiation committee and the working groups, to intensify their work," Roro Esti said in her written remarks.

"Hence, the negotiation can be completed by the target in the spirit of supporting the Priority Economic Deliverables during Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship this year," she added.

During the meeting, the presiding officer of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) reported that 10 out of 17 new chapters of the upgraded ATIGA have been agreed upon, and the negotiation progress has reached 89 percent completion.

In response, the deputy minister said, Indonesia has proposed trade liberalization as a requirement for all ASEAN countries, especially for countries who have yet to achieve the required liberalization commitment average in the ATIGA.

Roro Esti said that the ATIGA upgrade is aimed at modernizing its coverage and making it more relevant and responsive to ASEAN and global challenges.

She added that during the online meeting on Friday, the delegates agreed on a special arrangement for rice and sugar as ASEAN's strategic food commodities.

"It is part of ATIGA's upgrade. It is in line with domestic policies and will provide a safety net for the stability of domestic rice and sugar supply and prices," the deputy minister explained.