JAKARTA – The government could implement reciprocal policies to safeguard the interests of domestic products against the influx of imports.

This statement was made by Mukhamad Misbakhun, Chairman of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) during the DPR Economic Outlook in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/2).

Misbakhun explained that the proposal for reciprocal policies is a response to the surge of imported products flooding the domestic market. Despite the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance tightening the entry of illegal imports, he noted, the volume of legal imports continues to rise.

"In the past, there was a term for bulk imports that couldn’t be intercepted. Now, the smuggling routes are easily detected," he said.

Misbakhun cited the policy of former US President Donald J. Trump, who took the bold step of withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol. According to Misbakhun, such measures are quite effective in protecting national interests.

"Why don’t we try a reciprocal approach? In fact, there are many points we could use as bargaining positions," he added. (LK/KR/ZH)