SMEs Complain about E-Commerce Admin Fees, Trade Minister and SMEs Minister Prepare New Regulations

The government is preparing a revision to Trade Ministerial Regulation (Permendag) No. 31 of 2023 concerning the e-commerce ecosystem and marketplaces in general. This follows complaints from SMEs regarding the high administrative and logistics costs charged by the digital trading platforms they use.

“Yes, so now we are preparing a revision to the Permendag on the e-commerce ecosystem. But I can’t tell you the contents yet, because it’s still under discussion,” said Trade Minister Budi Santoso on the sidelines of the National Consumer Day (Harkonas) 2026 celebration in Jakarta on Sunday (10/5/2026).

The regulations related to digital trade are contained in Trade Ministerial Regulation (Permendag) No. 31 of 2023 on business licensing, advertising, coaching, and supervision of business actors in trade through electronic systems. Furthermore, Budi said the revision of the regulation is intended, among other things, to strengthen protection for local products including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), consumer protection, and priority promotion of local products on e-commerce or marketplaces.

“First, to protect consumers. Then also how the rights obtained by sellers or local products are increasingly prioritised in promotions or sales through e-commerce,” he said.

“So we are improving the e-commerce ecosystem together, from business actors, platform owners, to sellers. But it’s not finished yet, still under discussion,” Budi Santoso added.

The man familiarly called Busan assured that all stakeholders are involved in the discussion of the Permendag revision, from platforms to sellers.

“It must be mutually beneficial so that everything runs. E-commerce also needs sellers. Sellers also need e-commerce. But how they can work together and each party’s obligations must be mutually beneficial so that the ecosystem runs well,” he said.

“Of course, there are many instruments that we are reviewing again. We review again, we process everything,” he added.