REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian Ministry of Trade admitted that Vietnam Competition Authority (Trade Remedies Board) was investigating protectionist measure imposed on imported vegetable oil. Vietnam is reported to conduct investigation on protectionist measures imposed by all countries with share import more than three percent, including import from Indonesia and Malaysia. Director of Trade Defense at Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Ernawati, claimed that Vietnam Competition Authority had not officially told Indonesia about the investigation that had been started since January 11.
"Indonesian government has protested Vietnam Competition Authority about the investigation because they initially asked Indonesian exporters to fill the questioner about protectionist which was due to January 25. We asked for them to extend the deadline until February 17," she explained.
Indonesia will prepare the answer for the questioner and also the documents. Vietnam is among the 20 largest importers of Indonesia vegetable oil. Indonesia is the second biggest vegetable oil exporter to Vietnam after Malaysia.