Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has dismissed speculations that the country’s plan to impose import duties of up to 200 percent on certain products is targeting specific nations. “We are not targeting any particular country, especially China. All measures are taken based on our national interest,” Luhut stated during a press conference in Jakarta on July 6. Addressing concerns about potential trade tensions, Luhut emphasized that the proposed tariffs are part of Indonesia’s efforts to protect its domestic industries and are applied universally. “These tariffs apply to all imported goods, regardless of their origin,” he explained, as reported by Antara News. Luhut further highlighted the importance of China’s role as a strategic and comprehensive partner for Indonesia in trade and investment. “We are committed to maintaining this relationship through ongoing communication and dialogue regarding policy changes,” he said. The minister’s remarks come in response to earlier proposals by Indonesia’s Trade Minister, Zulkifli Hasan, who suggested imposing import duties of up to 200 percent on textile products, specifically mentioning China, as a protective measure for domestic industries. These comments had raised concerns over potential tensions between Indonesia and China, two significant trading partners in the region.
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Indonesia says its import tariff policy not targeted at any country
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