Indonesia Affirms No Tariffs Will be Imposed in the Malacca Strait, Upholds UNCLOS

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, stated that Indonesia will not impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait as it would be inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He made the statement to the media in Jakarta on Thursday, responding to circulating reports about a possible tariff policy in the strait.

Sugiono also emphasized that Indonesia respects international law, particularly UNCLOS. According to him, the convention recognizes Indonesia as an archipelagic state on the condition that it does not impose tariffs on straits within its territory.

“As an archipelagic state, we must respect international law, especially UNCLOS,” Sugiono conveyed.

He also stressed that Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and hopes for smooth, open, and mutually beneficial maritime traffic. “We also expect free passage, and I believe this is a shared commitment among many countries to create shipping lanes that are open, neutral, and mutually supportive,” he said.

Previously, Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, Purbaya Sadewa, had floated the possibility of imposing tariffs on vessels passing through the strait. He noted that the idea, inspired by the management of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran, could significantly contribute to domestic fiscal growth if implemented.

The Malacca Strait is one of the international shipping lanes and is legally recognized for transit under Articles 37, 38, and 39 of UNCLOS, which has been ratified by Indonesia.