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Businesses welcome latest trade rule to ease import curbs
Local businesses have embraced the Trade Ministry's latest regulation issued on Friday to ease imports of certain goods, the third such policy backtrack since a new set of restrictions were imposed in March.
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Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto (third left), accompanied by officials from other ministries, addresses a press briefing on May 17, 2024 at his office in Jakarta to explain Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 8/2024, which eases import restrictions on certain goods. (JP/Deni Ghifari)
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usinesses have welcomed an amendment that would relax the government’s import restrictions for goods and raw materials imposed since March.
Shinta Kamdani, chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), said in a press statement on Sunday that businesses needed the restrictions eased, as they had prevented many important shipments from entering the country, while others were stuck at ports.
“This policy is in sync with businesses’ aspirations that need eased imports of raw material, auxiliary goods and capital goods, keeping in mind that import restrictions for consumer goods and illegal [products] creates unhealthy business competition,” she said.
“Businesses are also working with the government to minimalize abuse of import regulations, especially for commercial products or [goods] that are freely sold domestically,” Shinta added.
Read also: Businesses call for amendment to already revised import curbs
Following concerns from businesses, the government issued Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 8/2024 on Friday to remove many raw and auxiliary materials from the list of goods classified as prohibited or restricted in the Harmonized System (HS).
The regulation is the third revision to Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 36/2023, which has been in force since March 10 this year with an aim to protect local producers, according to the government.
