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Electronics, cable sectors fret over eased import curbs
While industries have generally welcomed the government's backtracking on a controversial Trade Ministry regulation, certain sectors including electronics and cable manufacturing insist that easing import curbs is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
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Stock illustration of wall-mounted outdoor air conditioner units (Shutterstock/caimacanul)
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ocal businesses have expressed concern over the latest revision to a Trade Ministry regulation that eases the previous set of import restrictions in place since March, saying it could adversely affect the domestic electronics industry.
Andry Adi Utomo, senior general manager of PT Sharp Electronics Indonesia, said on Monday that the company had invested in local manufacturing plants to produce air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and LED TVs.
He said the company saw a need for a stricter import control policy and suggested the government should consider allowing imports only for companies operating local factories.
"The impact of this policy change makes it difficult for us to plan production and sales," Andry said on Monday, as quoted by Kontan.
"If we already have a [local] factory, we should be given an import quota for goods that are not produced in Indonesia, such as high-end items," he added.
The Electronics Producers Association (Gabel) also voiced a similar concern for other local manufacturers.
The government enacted Trade Ministry Regulation No. 36/2023 on March 10, which contained curbs on imports of finished goods, intermediate goods and raw materials across 18 sectors listed in 2,400 categories of the Harmonized System (HS).
