Trade Ministry Open to Input, Reaffirms Commitment to Evaluating Import Policies

Jakarta: The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) reaffirmed its openness to constructive feedback in evaluating import policies set out in Minister of Trade Regulations (Permendag) Numbers 16 to 24 of 2025. These import regulations were formulated based on input from various ministries and government institutions, making them a collective decision.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, emphasized that Kemendag seeks stronger synergy among ministries and institutions to ensure aligned objectives in shaping import policies. He welcomed feedback from different sectors of society, including ministries, institutions, and the business community, as a form of participation and oversight.

He expressed hope that evaluations of the import regulations would continue through the proper channel, namely the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs’ Limited Coordination Meeting, in line with Government Regulation (PP) No. 29 of 2021 on Trade Administration.

“The Ministry of Trade is very open to input and proposals related to the import of certain products, whether from government agencies, ministries, institutions, business associations, or the general public. Such input must follow due process before being enacted into a Permendag, one of which is obtaining agreement through the Limited Coordination Meeting led by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs,” Isy said in a written statement on Friday, September 5, 2025.

Kemendag issued Permendag Numbers 16 to 24 of 2025 concerning import policies and regulations as part of a broader deregulation agenda in the trade sector. This move follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to create a more conducive business climate. Deregulation is being pursued through two main approaches: import policy reforms and business facilitation.

“Deregulation aims to ease business operations, accelerate investment, and boost the competitiveness of national industries, especially labor-intensive sectors,” he added.

Permendag Issuance Based on Coordination Meeting

The issuance of Permendag Numbers 16 to 24 of 2025 was agreed upon at a Limited Coordination Meeting under the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on May 6, 2025. The meeting was chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and attended by the Minister of Trade as well as representatives from the State Secretariat, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Forestry.

The meeting identified four priority product groups whose import regulations would be relaxed. These include industrial raw materials and supporting inputs such as plastic raw materials, alternative fuels (ethyl alcohol/ethanol and biodiesel), and subsidized fertilizers.

According to the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), easing import policies for raw materials and supporting inputs is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of downstream industries that rely on them. Broader access to competitively priced inputs is projected to boost productivity and attract greater investment in downstream sectors, particularly those that depend heavily on imported raw materials.

“In principle, the Ministry of Trade remains committed to continuously monitoring and evaluating the impact of Permendag Numbers 16 to 24 of 2025 to ensure their benefits for businesses and the wider public,” Isy concluded.

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