Indonesia plans to boost steel imports from China

Indonesia plans to boost steel imports from China in 2010. Indonesia plans to increase steel imports from China to 1.5 million tons next year, as the tariff barriers would be deleted during the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (AC-FTA), which is scheduled on Jan. 1,2010, local media reported. "We have found an indication that the local importers have lobbied steel producers from China to conduct massive steel imports because of the implementation of the AC-FTA. This cooperation will delete tariffs on steel imports agreed previously," Gusti Putu Suryawirawan, director of Metal Industry of Directorate General of Metal and Engine Industries at the Industry Ministry I, was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying. The new imports from China are expected to contribute to Indonesia's total steel imports of 3.2 million tons in 2010.