Trade Minister Mari Pangestu Postpones Tough New Import Rules to Get Help Get Indonesian Businesses through the Holiday Season. (12/13/2008) Kompas reports that the government will postpone the implementation of new import regulations due to take effect from December 15, 2008.

Foreign Real Estate Agents Barred from Directly Operating in Indonesia While Local Agents to be Better Regulated. Bali News: Government Moves to Clean Up Real Estate Sector (12/13/2008) Bisnis Indonesia recently carried an article indicating that the government is preparing to intervene in the country's property industry following the issuance of new regulations forbidding foreign companies from operating in real estate sector.

The Trade Ministry and Industry Ministry are at odds on how to protect the domestic market from a projected influx of imported goods as the global economic slowdown cuts demand, resulting in massive excess in supply in the international market. The two ministries differ on the implementation of plans by the government to introduce cuts in import duties on certain product categories under the framework of free trade agreements (FTAs).

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government has abolished thousands of provincial regulations and draft laws on tax and retribution because they conflict with public interests and other regulations. "Autonomy is often misinterpreted as auto-money," said Finance Department's Financial Considerations director-general, Mardiasmo, in Jakarta yesterday. According to Mardiasmo, until December 10, 2008, the government has received 11.401 provincial regulations and 2.150 draft laws for approval.