Trade Minister Says Import Restriction Policy Aims for Consumer Protection

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) explained that the carry-on import restriction policy was carried out to protect domestic consumers.

"In the spirit of protecting consumers, at that time we regulated Minister of Trade Regulation Number 31 of 2023 regarding crypto, which was arranged to avoid harming consumers," said Zulhas in his speech at the Ministry of Trade Auditorium during National Consumer Day commemoration on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

He also said that Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 improved Minister of Trade Regulation No. 25 of 2022. "The President (Joko Widodo) decided in a limited meeting to shift the post-border inspection policy for imported goods to border policy,” he said.

In the past, said Zulhas, online transactions from overseas were conducted directly to Indonesia without strict supervision. This act harmed domestic businesses as non-sanctioned goods from abroad could be freely distributed.

“It was difficult (to control),” he said.  "Therefore, we decided to change the policy from post-border to border through Custom.”

The free distribution of foreign goods was also detrimental due to the unclear sources of the materials. Consumers were not informed whether the materials were safe. “That is an unfair treatment (for domestic products),” he said.

Zulhas also spoke up about the carry-on brought by Indonesian migrant workers which were held back by Customs. “The President decided to limit the carry-on to US$1,000 per year,” Zulhas said. Migrant workers, he said, are finally allowed to bring overseas goods with a maximum value of US$500 to avoid the “jastip” phenomenon. Additionally, Indonesian citizens are only allowed to bring 2 pairs of goods after traveling abroad. 

Director General of Domestic Trade, Isy Karim, said that Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 is within the purview of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade to protect domestic industry.

"Hopefully, this regulation will encourage the development of domestic industry,” he concluded. 

DESTY LUTHFIANI 

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