Beijing to keep close watch on tariffs from Jakarta

Beijing said on Thursday it will closely follow potential safeguard duties that Jakarta might impose on specific products, adding that it will work with Jakarta to uphold a free and open international trade order.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news conference, following recent reports that Indonesia will impose up to 200 percent import tariffs on Chinese goods.

China will take necessary measures to safeguard relevant companies' legitimate interests, Lin said.

Last week, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the tariff is "not targeting any particular country", Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Indonesia will not simply follow other countries if it contradicts our national interests," Luhut said.

In response, Lin said, "We are aware of relevant reports, especially the clarification made by Coordinating Minister Luhut and Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, who said that even if safeguard duties are imposed, they will apply to all countries."

Noting that China-Indonesia cooperation is win-win by nature, Lin said China looks to elevate bilateral trade on the basis of mutual benefits.

Opposing protectionism

"Both countries firmly support free trade, oppose protectionism and actively commit themselves to maintaining sound and steady development of bilateral cooperation in trade and investment," Lin said.

He also said China hopes to work with Indonesia to make bilateral trade "robust, balanced, inclusive and mutually sustainable".

China is the top trading partner of Indonesia, as well as the second-largest source of foreign investment for the Southeast Asian country, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Indonesia is the second-largest destination in ASEAN for Chinese investment.

Luhut emphasized last week that China remains a crucial strategic and comprehensive partner for Indonesia in trade and investment, Indonesia's Antara News reported.