"Use Domestic Electronics" Indonesia Introduces New Import Regulations

Strengthening Import Procedures for 78 Items Including Air Conditioners and TVs
Interpretation as De Facto Ban
Controversy Over Restrictions Affecting Both Foreign and Domestic Companies

Indonesia has introduced new regulations restricting the import of electronic products. According to CNN Indonesia and others on the 10th (local time), the Indonesian Ministry of Industry introduced new import regulations for 139 electronic products through Ministerial Regulation No. 6 the day before.

The photo is unrelated to the article content. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

The key point is that to import 78 electronic products such as air conditioners, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, fiber optic cables, and laptops, importers must submit an import permit along with a report from an inspector. This is effectively a ban.

Priyadi Ari Nugroho, Director of Electronics and Telecommunications at the Ministry of Industry, stated, "This regulation is not intended to oppose imports but to maintain a favorable business environment for domestically produced products." He explained that it is a measure to protect domestic products.

Indonesia has been implementing import restriction policies, including tightening the import of about 4,000 imported products through a new trade regulation last month. The strategy is to block the import of raw materials and intermediate products as much as possible. However, there is ongoing controversy as it is causing disruptions not only to foreign companies but also to the production of domestic firms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.