Indonesia, Thailand officials discuss bilateral trade

Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said on Tuesday that Indonesian and Thailand officials have met on the sidelines of APEC summit held here to discuss removing barriers to trade between the two countries. He told a joint press conference at the end of the APEC summit that the bilateral ministerial-level meeting held in APEC summit discussed barriers in the trade of car and horticulture products, among others. "They export cars to us, but they often reject our car export to them with some excuses," Gita said, adding that Thailand often cited flaws in cars produced in Indonesia that made them disqualify to enter Thailand's market. From Thailand's side, they complained on Indonesia's port regulations that made their horticulture products rejected to enter Indonesian market. "I explained them that all regulations set in all Indonesian seaports have been justified by the existing laws," he added. Thailand is the only country that Indonesia posted deficit in its trade with countries in Southeast Asia region. Indonesia posted 1.382 billion U.S. dollars deficit in its bilateral trade with Thailand in the first quarter this year. Indonesia's non-oil and gas products export to Thailand in the first quarter this year stood at 1.37 billion U.S. dollars and its import figure during the period was 2.76 billion U.S. dollars. Horticulture product is the most Thailand's commodity that influenced Indonesia's deficit in the trade. Indonesia imports 5 billion U.S. dollar of the commodities from Thailand annually. It was followed by imports of cars and car components.