Gov’t to Restrict Commodities Import

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto gives a press statement, Friday (10/06), in Jakarta. (Photo: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Dandy)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asked his staff to impose restriction on certain imported commodities that will put the market share of local products at a disadvantage. The restriction was due to complaints raised by associations and the people on imported products that flood the traditional market and e-commerce.

It was stated by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto after attending the limited meeting chaired by President Jokowi, at Merdeka Palace, Friday (10/06).

“The Government, as Bapak President has directed, is to focus on restricting certain commodities import, such as toys, electronic stuffs, shoes, cosmetics, textiles, traditional medicines, and health supplements, clothes, and accessories, and bags,” the Coordinating Minister said. He added that excessive imported products have made impacts on workforce, such as workers of textile industry and textile products.

Airlangga mentioned that the number of revised Harmonized System Codes (HS Code) is as follows: 327 heading codes for certain products, 328 heading codes for clothes, and 23 heading codes for bags. Additionally, the regulation on monitoring prohibited or restricted commodities in customs area has been revised.

“Currently, those categorized as post-border commodities are revised into border commodities, completed with import approval and surveyor report. Indonesia has handled well some commodities for 60 percent of prohibited or restricted commodities and 40 percent of non-prohibited or restricted commodities,” he explained.

In addition, the Government will also do monitoring of general importers, from initially post-border to border categories. The revision of post-border category into border category, Airlangga said, will demand revisions of regulations in a number of ministries/institutions.

“So, regulations of Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Trade, Minister for Industry, Head of the Agency for Drug and Food Control, Minister for Health, Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, and Minister for Communication and Information Technology. Bapak President asked that the ministerial regulations can be revised immediately within two weeks,” he remarked. (DND/UN)(AW/LW)