Logistics Entrepreneurs Welcome the Plan to List Imported Goods that May Enter Indonesia
The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has revised Minister of Trade Regulation Number 50 of 2020 concerning Provisions for Business Licensing, Advertising, Guidance and Supervision of Business Actors in Trading Through Electronic Systems. One of the main points in the revision of the regulation is restrictions on imported goods in the e-commerce market.
For example, restrictions on imported goods can only be placed on goods with a minimum price of US$ 100 or the equivalent of Rp. 1.5 million if multiplied by the exchange rate of Rp. 15,000/US$. This is done to protect the domestic market from invasion by cheap imported products.
However, the Ministry of Trade plans to issue positive list regulations. This regulation will be contained in Minister of Trade Regulation Number 31 of 2023. This list will contain goods from abroad that are allowed to cross countries directly into Indonesia via e-commerce platforms.
This policy was also welcomed by the Association of E-Commerce Logistics Entrepreneurs (APLE). APLE Chairman Sonny Harsono considers this policy to be an indicator that the government realizes that it is impossible for imports under US$ 100 to be implemented without exceptions.
"Efforts to protect MSMEs are not by prohibiting nominal prices for goods that can be used as basic materials for MSME production and have added value, but rather the government should look at the import process. Illegal importation is the main cause of Predatory Pricing, it is not the nominal value of US$ 100 and below that kills MSMEs, but "The entire nominal amount of imported goods that do not go through an official importation process will cause predatory pricing and be detrimental to MSMEs," he said in a written statement, Thursday (5/10/2023).
Sonny reminded that currently Indonesian MSMEs have exported on a large scale through Cross-Border PMSE. So, according to him, it would be contradictory if on the other hand, our MSMEs carry out and benefit from cross-border trade through PMSE, but their transactions are limited by PMSE.
"Currently, the value of MSME export transactions through Cross-Border PMSE is IDR 8-10 trillion per year and in terms of volume it has exceeded the Cross-Border PMSE Importation limit. So it can be concluded that the Cross-Border PMSE route is a trade route that makes a big contribution and can increase power MSMEs' international competitiveness," he added.
He emphasized that APLE supports all efforts to protect and increase the competitiveness of national MSMEs. He also admitted that it was impossible to increase the competitiveness of MSMEs without increasing cross-border activities.
APLE also asked the government to be very careful in implementing the Positive List in PERMENDAG 31 of 2023. This is so that the Positive List can really increase the competitiveness of MSMEs and not cause harm.
Previously, it was reported that the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, said that regarding the positive list, his party would immediately discuss it with related parties. As is known, the positive list will be regulated in Minister of Trade Regulation Number 31 of 2023.
This list will contain goods from abroad that are allowed to cross countries directly into Indonesia via e-commerce platforms.
"We will close the positive list soon, we also discussed it to immediately disseminate the positive list of items (which are allowed to enter)," he concluded.
