Indonesia seeks ways to balance local industries with high Chinese imports

A flood of Chinese products into Indonesia has hit local manufacturers hard, prompting the government to look for ways to placate domestic producers while avoiding angering the country's biggest trading partner.

Garment makers both home-based piece work producers and factories have appealed for help as they lose market share to low-cost apparel and textiles from China. A surge of products bought online has added to the problem.

A protest by workers in Jakarta prompted Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan to announce in July that the government will impose import tariffs of up to 200% on some products from China, particularly textiles, clothing, footwear, electronics, ceramics and cosmetics, to try to protect local businesses and prevent layoffs.

The United States can impose a 200% tariff on imported ceramics or clothes, so we can do it as well," Zulkifli said, to ensure micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and industries survive and thrive.

But China is Indonesia's .