G/LIC/Q/IDN/48  
 
26 April 2022  
(22-3313) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF INDONESIA  
REPLIES BY INDONESIA TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION1  
The following communication, dated 20 April 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Indonesia . 
 
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The EU notes that Indonesia has not submitted yet notifications on import licensing procedures of 
several products.  
In the lack of such notifications and considering t he increasing number of concerns of the EU traders 
on the import licensing procedures applied by Indonesia, the EU would like to ask Indonesia to clarify 
the aspects listed below.  
According to the recent Trade Policy Review of Indonesia in the WTO2, "the  regulatory framework of 
import licensing was expanded and revised for several items, including: animals and animal 
products; cloves; sugar; horticultural products; alcoholic beverages; salt; pearls; lubricants; plastic; 
nitro cellulose; sodium triopoly -phosphate; ozone -depleting substances; non -hazardous and non -
toxic waste; optical discs (empty and filled) and machines and materials used to produce them; 
textiles and textile products; cell phones, handheld computers, and tablets; and colour multi -
function al machines, colour photocopying and printing machines".  
Regulation of the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia No. 77/2019 concerning 
the provisions on the import of textiles and textile products:  
1. When will Indonesia submit the notification of the above -mentioned law to the WTO, as 
required under Art icles 1.5 and 5 of the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing procedures?  
2. Could Indonesia indicate whether traders, which were taken by surprise by the application of 
Regulation No. 77/2019 without advance notification to the WTO, could at least complete their  
importations into Indonesia under the previous regime?  
3. Could Indonesia indicate whether finished textile products, listed in the Annex to Regulation 
No. 77/2019, may be imported into Indonesia for purposes other than further processing by 
domestic produce r importers, their cooperating production parties, and/or small - and mid -
sized industries?  
4. If so, could Indonesia please provide the following information:  
4.1 How many licenses have been issued, for the importation of finished textile products for 
retail or trading purposes, since the entry into force of Regulation No. 77/2019?  
4.2 What volumes of finished textile products, imported for retail purposes or for trading, 
have entered Indonesia since the entry into force of Regulation No. 77/2019?  
 
1 Circulated on 24 January 2021 in document G/LIC/Q/IDN/43 . 
2 WTO document WT/TPR/S/401, 4 November 2020, paragraph 3.59, page 84.  G/LIC/Q/IDN/48  
 
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  4.3 From whi ch country did the finished textile products, imported for retail purposes or for 
trading since the entry into force of Regulation No. 77/2019, originate in?  
5. Could Indonesia confirm that the Regulation No. 77/2019 allows non -manufacturers and 
retailers to carry out imports to Indonesia only under the condition that they establish a 
partnership with Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs)? If so, could Indonesia 
please provide clarity on the specifics regarding the nature of the partnership and the SM Es? 
6. Could Indonesia indicate whether it believes that the import prohibition maintained under 
Regulation No. 85/2015, as last amended by Regulation No. 77/2019, is consistent with Article 
XI of the GATT?  
7. If so, could Indonesia please explain why, de facto if not de jure, no import license has been 
issued, since the entry into force of Regulation No. 77/2019, for the importation of finished 
textile products from the EU for retail purposes or for trading?  
Reply:  
 
Questions  1-7: Regulation No. 77/2019 has been revoked and is no longer in place. However, 
Indonesia ensures  that the application for Import Approval in Indonesia is done electronically and 
after the documents are complete and correct, the Import Approval will be p rocessed in a relatively 
short time-period and  within the timeframe in line with the Import Licensing Agreement . 
 
Regulation No. 68/2020 on import provisions for footwear, electronics and 
bicycles/tricycles, which entered into force on 28 August 2020), as last amended by 
Regulation No. 78/2020, which entered into force on 8 October 2020:  
 
8. When will Indonesia submit the notification of the above -mentioned law and the amendment 
to the WTO, as required under Articles 1.5 and 5 of the WTO Agreement on  Import Licensing 
procedures?  
9. Could Indonesia submit all relevant information justifying the import restrictions (restricted 
port of entry, pre -shipment inspection, import plan obligation)?  
Reply : 
Questions  8-9: Regulation No s. 68/2020 and 78/2020 ha ve been revoked and are no longer in place. 
However, the Government of Indonesia has committed to ensure that the administration of the 
surveillance of the incoming goods could be carried out optimally in accordance with the standards 
of the specified port o f destinations. Regarding the import verification provisions, the government 
of Indonesia also has to ensure that certain incoming goods me et the requirements. The Import plan 
obligation is also needed in order to project the future utilization o f import a pprovals.  
Importation of alcohol beverages:  
 
10. Could Indonesia confirm that the licensing procedures for EU alcoholic beverages in 2021 will 
be swift, transparent and non -discriminatory, fulfilling the entire requested amount by the 
importers?  
Reply:  
Indones ia's government has found no barriers for alcohol ic beverage products from the 
European  Union entering Indonesia' s market. From January to April 2021, Indonesia issued 13 
import approvals on alcohol ic beverages originating from several countries, including the 
European  Union. Indonesia is of the view that the utilization of import approvals relating to Alcohol ic 
Beverages , whether originating European Union or not, is based on business -to-business deci sions 
from the business entities/importers.  
 
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