RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is strengthening oversight of export activities to safeguard domestic supply amid the shifting dynamics of global trade.

The Trade Ministry has issued Ministerial Regulation No. 12/2026, granting broader authority to regulate export licensing, including the suspension, freezing, and revocation of business permits.

“This amendment empowers the government to act swiftly to protect national and public interests, ensure the smooth implementation of government programs, and enforce the President’s directives. We want to make sure export activities remain aligned with domestic needs,” Trade Minister Budi Santoso said in Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The regulation, which took effect on April 29, 2026, provides a new instrument for early intervention. Unlike previous rules that focused mainly on administrative sanctions, the latest policy allows preventive measures, including suspending technical verification services before violations occur.

The authority to act against exporters now extends beyond the Trade Ministry to other ministries and institutions. Decisions will be coordinated through cross-ministerial meetings led by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs or the Coordinating Ministry for Food.

Director General of Foreign Trade at the Trade Ministry, Tommy Andana, said the regulation was designed with flexibility in mind. “This policy of suspension, freezing, and revocation is dynamic. We have also established mechanisms for reactivating frozen permits and lifting service suspensions,” he said.

To ensure smooth export flows, transitional provisions have been introduced. Goods registered in Export Customs Notification documents before the regulation took effect will continue to be processed by customs authorities.

Digital platforms such as INATRADE and the Indonesia National Single Window will be used to promote transparency, with businesses receiving automatic notifications about their licensing status.

The government expects the policy to strengthen cross-agency coordination while balancing export performance with national economic resilience. ***