INDUSTRY.co.id - Bandung - The World Trade Organization (WTO) is still in a stagnant position because it has not produced much agreement to regulate world trade, said world trade expert Doctor Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti from UGM.

"Since its establishment has not been able to produce anything because of too many controversial rules," said Poppy at the Workshop on Capacity Building of Government Officials related to WTO issues in Bandung, Monday (26/3/2018)

She said a meeting in Doha in 2001 using the label "development" for the purpose of improving the welfare of developing countries did not result in any agreement.

Another aspect, which makes the WTO stagnant is the emergence of energy issues, climate change and food crisis that affect the policies of a number of countries.

"The issue is a new issue that brought WTO members apart from the issue of tariff barriers and tariff reductions," she said.

Some countries are trying to support new and renewable energy by subsidizing business actors, but they are considered to violate the WTO rules.

Indonesia has a policy to secure food availability especially rice by commissioning Bulog to create stock and market operations, but to be protested by other countries because it distorts the market.

"Indonesia should be able to provide an explanation of the policy so as not to be accused of violating WTO signs," she said.

The most recent aspect that makes the WTO stagnant, according to Poppy is the US trade policy under President Donald Trump who wants to withdraw from all multilateral trade agreements and ask for renegotiations.

The referee Meanwhile, Director of Intellectual Commodity and Intellectual Trade (PKKI) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tri Purnajaya as reported by Antara said, inevitably Indonesia must follow the rules of the WTO game because only the organization that is currently a referee of various trade barriers including black campaign on products Indonesia.

"We need to be more active in voicing our opinions about the policies that have been taken and seeking support from other countries," she said.

Black campaign Problem by European countries about palm oil Indonesia, according to him, Indonesia has managed to win by convincing that there is no damage to the forest and keep the protected animals.

However one workshop participant asked how about compensation for Indonesia who had been harmed by the Indonesian antisawit campaign for two years.

On the question, Poppy explained that if the WTO decides to make a decision then Indonesia can apply for compensation by applying tariffs for certain products from the losing countries in the dispute.

The head of the Asia Pacific Regional Desk for the WTO Technical Cooperation and Training Institute, Faustin Mukela Luanga, praised the workshop.

She hopes that the participants will be able to improve their understanding of the WTO so they can formulate regulations and policies that are in line with international commitments.

"During the three days of the workshop, participants will receive materials on WTO basic principles and some specific cases of trade disputes dealt with by the WTO," she said.

The workshop initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by about 100 participants from various related ministries such as Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries