INDONESIA NEEDS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DECISION TO JOIN TPP

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been advised to conduct a comprehensive study and increase its efficiency before taking a decision to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) so that it will not merely serve as a market destination.         Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) is of the view that Indonesia might weaken its bargaining position if it takes part in the TPP as it will not have enough room for negotiations.         "Indonesia's bargaining power will become weak if it joins the TPP after the TPP is agreed upon by 12 countries," Research and Monitoring Manager at IGJ, Rachmi Hertanti, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.         Such a weak bargaining position will result in Indonesia having no choice other than agreeing to the standards already set previously. She also reminded that the TPP will open access for foreign companies to the procurement of government goods and services, whose values could reach trillions of dollars set in the state budget.         "This is a lucrative business for the United States corporations. That is why the TPP applies non-discriminatory regulations and national treatment for foreign companies in this business activity," she said.