Industry Ministry defends import restriction bid

The regulation mandates ministerial approval to import over half the goods classified in 139 tariff posts and the remainder to obtain a surveyor report. — The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: The Industry Ministry has defended a regulation that restricts the importation of certain electronic devices and household appliances as intended to boost domestic manufacturing, in line with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directive to address the trade deficit in the electronics industry.

The import restriction, which covers devices such as laptops, TV sets, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines, went into effect on Feb 6.