The Indonesian Industry Ministry said it had proposed the imposition of a 5% import duty on cement to protect local industry from large-volume imports - especially from China.  
 
Current cement is exempted from import duty. 
 
Downstream Chemical Director General Tony Tanduk said the Tariff Team of the Finance Ministry had been given a green light.  
 
He said other members of Asean (which includes Indonesia) had already imposed import duties on cement.  
 
The Indonesian Cement Association earlier proposed the imposition of a 5% import duty on cement from other Asean countries and at least 20% on cement from countries outside the region.  
 
He said the proposal was to forestall large imports from China, which was estimated to have an oversupply of 100 million tons of cement this year.