INDONESIA PREPARES POLICY TO CURB STEEL IMPORTS.

JAKARTA, May 1 Asia Pulse - The Indonesian government said it was preparing to release a new policy to curb steel imports to protect the local industry following similar measures imposed by the United States and other countries.

"The tariff team headed by the finance minister is currently designing the appropriate mechanism to discourage steel imports," Sutrisno, president of state-owned steel company Krakatau Steel, told reporters.

He predicted the government would announce the policy soon in response to complaints about the imports from domestic industries such as Krakatau Steel, Gunawan Steel and Gunung Garuda.

Krakatau Steel marketing director Daenulhay said the government had promised to take the decision this week.

"Let's just wait for it but in principle we have asked for maximum protection from the government like what other countries have done for their steel industries," he said.

National steel producers in a presentation at the ministry of finance last week asked the government to take protective measures following the examples of ...