JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has opened its voice regarding President Prabowo Subianto's instructions to remove import quotas, especially those related to the lives of many people.
Acting Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, said that the elimination of import quotas, especially those related to the lives of many people, must be carried out in a balanced manner, both upstream and downstream.
In addition, he said, the government must consider and calculate domestic needs if the import tap is opened.
"So which time is for the sake, for example, the interests of upstream, for industrial purposes, for the benefit of domestic production. Now that must be considered, it is calculated really how much (domestic) needs", he said at the Ministry of Trade office, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 9.
The man who is also the Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade said, in principle, food commodities in the commodity balance depend on national production and national consumption.
"Because in principle, in the commodity balance, how much is national production, then how much is national consumption, now the shortage is imports," he explained.
Even so, Isy admitted that he could not convey which commodities whose import quotas would be removed.
Currently, there are six commodities in the commodity balance that have an import quota.
The six commodities are rice, corn, soybeans, shallots, garlic, and beef and buffalo.
"So the revocation of this import quota needs to be discussed further. One of the discussions is what is the definition of the quota to be revoked," he said.
Isy also said that the elimination of import quotas is possible for commodities outside the commodity balance. Especially, if the imported goods are raw materials for the industry.
"As long as imported goods are raw materials, for industrial purposes, they are carried out by producer importers, and are not regulated in the commodity balance, the revocation of the import quota is safe to do," said Isy.
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Previously, President Prabowo Subianto asked for the removal of import quotas, especially for commodities related to the lives of many people.
In this regard, the Head of State revealed that he had given direct instructions to the relevant ranks to eliminate quota mechanisms that could hinder the smooth running of trade
The statement of the abolition was conveyed by the President during a dialogue session at the Economic Sarasehan event which was held at the Mandiri Tower, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
"But what is clear is that the Coordinating Minister yesterday, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of BI is there, the Chairman of the DEN is there. I have given orders to eliminate import quotas. Especially for goods related to the lives of many people. Who can afford it, who wants to import, please, be free. No longer are we pointing out that only this is permissible, it is not allowed, "said Prabowo as quoted from the Cabinet Secretariat, Wednesday, April 9.
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