JAKARTA — Indonesia is reviewing its dependence on cattle imports from Australia, in the first sign that a dispute over alleged spying could affect trade and investment between the two neighbours.

Indonesia, which takes more than 60 per cent of Australia’s live cattle exports, may revise rules to allow it to import from other countries, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan told reporters in Jakarta yesterday. State-owned PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia is also putting on hold talks to buy Australian land for cattle ranches.

On the second day of demonstrations yesterday, protesters hurled bottles, tomatoes and eggs at the gate of the heavily-guarded Australian embassy in Jakarta.

Flags were burnt amid chants for the Australia ambassador to be expelled, as anger brewed over the alleged wiretapping of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and government officials in 2009. The claims had prompted Mr Yudhoyono to downgrade diplomatic ties with Canberra.

Trade Minister Wirjawan said: “If our neighbour is doing tapping that reflects that they distrust us, and I think that will affect the bilateral relationship. We are reviewing the policy, to not let our sovereignty be disturbed.”

Malaysia imports most of its beef from India at half the price of Australian meat, and Indonesia should act to follow that, said Mr Wirjawan.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ruled out an apology over the alleged tapping, potentially complicating his bid for a free-trade pact with Indonesia. Two-way trade reached A$14.6 billion (S$17 billion) last year.

The reports that set off the Indonesian outrage quoted documents leaked by former United States National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

The Jakarta Post yesterday said that Indonesian lawmakers plan to fly to Russia to meet Snowden to get more details. AGENCIES