Indonesia Bans Import Of Certain Luxury Cars

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Ministry for Industry and Trade issued a ban on luxury cars Feb. 25, saying such cars were bad for society. The ban is on the import of luxury cars with engine capacity above 4,000 cu cm, Minister for Industry and Trade Yusuf Kalla said last week. Yusuf said the ministry would notify the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the ban "soon". The ban is reportedly against WTO rules, but Yusuf is optimistic that he can convince the WTO to allow the ban. Yusuf said previously that the ban was necessary because the import of such cars could cause "social jealousy, (or) even unrest" because of the social gap between the rich and poor.