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Govt. to limit import gates
The Jakarta Post | Wed, 12/03/2008 11:33 PM | Business
As of Dec. 15, the government will reduce the number of seaports and airports legally permitted to receive imported goods from five categories: electronics, foods and drinks, clothing, toys and footwear.
The eligible seaports are Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, Belawan in North Sumatra and Makassar in South Sulawesi. The airports are Soekarno-Hatta airport in Banten and Juanda airport, Surabaya.
"All the ports are ready for the new measure," foreign trade director general Diah Maulida said Wednesday, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.
Earlier, the Trade Ministry had notified all local importers of the upcoming regulation.
"The regulation was approved on Oct. 31, but it would not be implemented until December, in a hope that this would give us enough time to provide [affected parties with] information," Diah said.
The regulation is part of the government's attempt to secure the trade balance amid the sliding global demand for Indonesian products, and to reduce pressure on the rupiah caused by demand for U.S. dollars.
Diah said the regulation would remain in effect for two years.
"We will revoke it after two years, when the crisis subsides," she said. (and)
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Gunawan (not verified) — Fri, 12/05/2008 - 2:29pm
"The regulation is part of the government's attempt to secure the trade balance amid the sliding global demand for Indonesian products"
I think the above statement is probably misleading. Jakarta Post needs to be careful and verify this again. It's absurd for govt official to say that. What I read from other media is that this is done to prevent smuggling. During crisis time usually illegal goods especially from China will try to find a way to enter other markets if they can't sell to US market. Recently in California, USA custom officers seized large amount of clothing with fake "Made in Indonesia" label on it that is actually from China. I urge Jakarta Post to again verify that statement to avoid any misunderstanding. I am sure all readers know about the rampant smuggling of textiles, steel, etc that's going on here.
Nyoman duatmika (not verified) — Thu, 12/04/2008 - 3:03pm
The government has no idea about the economy if they think this will help. Inter country trading does nothing for the economy if each country bans imports(just ask China). Indonesia needs to understand that other countries won't sit back and take this crap and you can expect Rattan products to be the first highly taxed in the USA vs Vietnam Rattan. The Rupiah is sliding because the Government make funny policy such as the article above not because of USA products being imported. Let's face it, the imported goods cost more than the local ones but people still prefer to buy them maybe the Government should look at the root cause why this is? Does Indonesia make good cookies? answer: no they all taste like cardboard. How would Indonesians living in the USA like it if the government all of a sudden said sorry you cant eat rice?!!! Indonesia should treat foreign imports as luxury if Indonesia wants to continue down this path. I hope the UN can impose a trade embargo on Indonesia such as the likes of North Korea ..Indonesia carefully what you wish for you might just get it...
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Thu, 12/04/2008 - 7:49am
Wrong, wrong, wrong. It won't do anything to boost the balance of trade for Indonesia. The squeeze on imports currently being orchestrated through various devious means will have the result, as surely as night follows day, that other countries will obstruct the import of like goods from Indonesia.
In the case of cars it doesn't matter as Indonesia is not a major exporter. But with food and drink commodities our short-sighted officials are playing a dangerous game. Importers of Indonesian coffee will switch to Vietnam and Latin America. Peanut products, sugar and seafood can also be sourced freely elsewhere. Indonesia exports more food than it imports.