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Indonesia Limits Imports from China Due To Corona Virus
Written by Maryati
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The Indonesian Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto, said that the government will limit food and beverage imports from the People's Republic of China. The restriction was made following the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country. Agus Suparmanto on the sidelines of a sudden inspection at the Wonokromo Market in Surabaya, East Java on Friday, January 31, said, in addition to carrying out restrictions, importers would also be asked to selectively import food and beverages. This because the current spread of the virus is already at an alarming level. However, the Minister was reluctant to specify the types of food and drinks he would limit to enter Indonesia. He said all foods would be strictly selected.
Corona virus outbreaks have spread and killed more than 200 people and infected thousands of others. The Ministry of Health previously stated that the Corona Virus can only live on animate objects. Secretary of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health Achmad Yurianto said the virus can also only develop in living cells. On this basis, he said that imports of goods from China remained safe.
Nevertheless, Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto stressed, the government remained cautious. He claimed that he would not totally stop importing from China, since some Indonesian importers have also been bound by contracts. The Minister said that he did not want to make a harmful policy. Adding, this limitation might later affect the decline in import figures, though would not have much effect on exports.
A few days earlier, the Director General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance Heru Pambudi said that the government was currently focusing on watching out the movement of people between countries to anticipate the virus entering Indonesia. However, the latest developments from the spread of the virus would also be followed closely. If it is required, restrictions on imported products from China can be applied.
