Jakarta. Indonesia is eyeing tighter curbs on imports of raw materials made by child labor as Jakarta tries to respond to a US investigation over unfair trade practices.

Just a few days ago, the Donald Trump 2.0 administration opened investigations into Indonesia and dozens of economies. One of the probes targeted goods made by forced labor, something that the US claimed had granted foreign manufacturers an "artificial cost advantage".

As the clock ticks on the first hearing, Indonesia’s chief tariff negotiator Airlangga Hartarto summoned several government officials and industry representatives to his office on Tuesday. Airlangga confirmed that there were plans to step up supervision to ward off foreign goods produced by forced labor, particularly kids.

“Indonesia shall not import raw materials made by child labor. Our country has adopted a plethora of rules on this, including the International Labor Organization [ILO] Conventions. So there should be no more issues with this,” Airlangga told the press, hours after the closed-door meeting.

Airlangga signaled that the government would draft a regulation that “would urge Indonesian companies not to make such imports”. However, Indonesia ratified the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention almost three decades ago. The same goes for the ILO Convention on the minimum age for work.

“The ILO conventions already cover [how we don’t support child labor], but we will just reaffirm this,” he said.

Earlier that day, Airlangga’s aide Edi Prio Pambudi had dropped a hint that the government would come up with rules to prevent imports associated with forced labor. The government still plans to cross-check with the situation on the ground. 

Beyond imports, the Indonesian government has repeatedly stated its support for workers’ rights and its anti-child-labor stance at home. Jakarta has spoken with the White House to clear up misunderstandings over parents taking their kids to work, particularly those who have to work outdoors (e.g., plantations). In its defense, Indonesia has said that not all families can afford babysitters. Some children are also on school break, according to Edi. He claimed that the US had “very much accepted” Indonesia’s explanation of the child labor confusion.

Government data showed that Indonesia’s non-oil and gas imports mainly came from China, nearing $7.9 billion in January 2026. Followed by Australia (almost $1.1 billion) and Japan ($950 million). These three countries are also subject to the US unfree-labor investigations. The US Trade Representative will hold the first hearing for the probe on April 28.

The investigation is widely seen as Trump’s attempt to rebuild the tariff wall after a US Supreme Court ruling declared he did not have the right to impose reciprocal import duties. Trump has railed against the ruling by slapping a new 10% global tariff that is bound to expire on July 24, unless extended by the Congress. He had threatened to increase the temporary duty to 15%. 

Jakarta has repeatedly stated that it is quite optimistic as it has already secured a tariff deal with the US. Despite criticisms of the terms heavily favoring the US, the pact has promised tariff exemptions for Indonesian palm oil and aircraft components, among others. The 45-page document also called on Indonesia to prohibit imports of goods "mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced or compulsory labor". The agreement awaits lawmaking processes before the terms can actually enter into force.

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