Coordinating Minister Airlangga Affirms There Are No Plans To Return To Old Import Rules

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that until now there has been no plan from the government to revise the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 8 of 2024 concerning the Third Amendment to the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 36 of 2023 concerning Policy and Regulation of Imports.

"There is no such plan yet," he said after the One Map Policy Summit 2024, Thursday, July 11.

However, Airlangga said any government policy could be evaluated on the policy. However, for the initial stage, the government needs to see what options can be taken.

"Yes, of course, we can evaluate the government's policy, but in this initial stage we have to see what can be done," he said.

Meanwhile, Airlangga's statement was different from the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita conveyed that many associations and industry players had officially conveyed to the Minister of Industry that the contents of the Minister of Trade 8/2024 were considered to be able to kill domestic industries.

"Because through the enactment of the regulation, domestic industries will find it very difficult to deal with the onslaught of imported goods, which are very cheap. This certainly has an impact on many companies closing and layoffs," he added in an official statement, quoted Wednesday, July 10.

However, some time ago, President Joko Widodo had held a limited meeting to find a solution in the midst of the screams of the domestic industry.

"Alhamdulillah, in this meeting, the efforts we are fighting for have been approved by the President. For example, the determination of BMDTP and BMAD, of course, is to protect the domestic industry," he said.

Agus added that at the meeting, he had also proposed to the President to reimpose Permendag 36/2023.

"Mr. President said to be studied immediately. Because in our view, Permendag 36/2023 is the most ideal," he said.