Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan announced the issuance of Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Regulations. The Minister of Trade Regulation was promulgated on December 11 2023 and will come into effect 90 days after that date or to be precise on March 10 2024.
One of the main points in Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 is the restructuring of import policies by moving import supervision from "post-border" to "border" and implementing relaxation or ease of imports for shipments of goods for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). Apart from that, the Minister of Trade Regulation also regulates raw material import facilities for industries that hold Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status and are main customs partners.
"Given the current global situation, we need to regulate imports so that they do not harm Indonesia. This also applies in many other countries where imports are regulated while exports are made easier. "One of them is by returning supervision to the border for a number of goods," said Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan in his speech during the Socialization of Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 on Tuesday (19/12) in Semarang, Central Java.
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan also highlighted commodities whose import controls were returned from "post-border" to "border," including electronics, footwear, apparel, as well as cosmetics and traditional medicine, with the aim of organizing imports of goods more regularly. During the transition period for the implementation of this Minister of Trade Regulation, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan encouraged importers to plan their imports well.
"I hope that the heads of industry and trade departments throughout the Central Java region can help socialize this Minister of Trade Regulation to business actors in their respective regions, so that they can understand import regulations correctly," said Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan.
The socialization was carried out in a hybrid manner, physically attended by 650 participants from associations, surveyors, stakeholders, business actors and the Central Java Provincial Service.
"This policy has been eagerly awaited by business actors because there are many policy changes, both relaxing and regulatory, related to foreign trade policies, especially import policies," said the Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Budi Santoso.
Specifically regarding the provisions for relaxation or ease of importing goods sent by PMI, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 will immediately come into effect as of its promulgation on 11 December 2023.
"Apart from that, this Minister of Trade Regulation also improves the rules so that PMI can take their goods home. "This is to give appreciation to PMI as a foreign exchange hero," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
The government provides convenience in the process of sending goods belonging to PMI and provides exemption from import duties with a maximum value of USD 1,500 per year.
Minister of Trade Regulation Number 35 of 2023 can be downloaded via the following link:
