RI signs ASEAN Protocol on dispute settlement

Bangkok, Thailand (ANTARA) - Indonesian Trade Minister, Agus Suparmanto, signed the ASEAN Protocol on the Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism (EDSM) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, as part of a series of activities of the 35th ASEAN Summit.

Suparmanto is among the 10 ASEAN economic ministers that signed the document.

"The dispute settlement mechanism facilitates communication among ASEAN member states in case of a dispute before referring it to the higher-level institution," he said.

The document, known as Vientiane Protocol, was adopted as an appendix to the Bali Concord II, and is aimed at ensuring the quick implementation of economic accords and resolutions to economic disputes.

Since then, the protocol continued to develop, from 46 approvals to 105 approvals.

"So, the increase is significant," he said.

The document approved the exclusion of the non-violation complaints point that may reduce the number of disputed cases.

"So, non-violation complaints may merely serve as an assessment but they don't violate the rules or agreement. After the point is excluded, disputes are limited to cases found violating the agreement," Director General of International Trade Negotiations of the Trade Ministry, Imam Pambagyo, said.

The EDSM Protocol will confirm the equal right and obligation for Indonesia and other ASEAN member states, including efforts to safeguard various export commodities from entering the Southeast Asian nations.

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