Indonesia Bans e-Commerce App ‘Temu’ from Operating in the Country Because Its Prices are Too Cheap

Previously, we shared how Indonesia banned Apple from selling the new iPhone 16 Series in the country until the tech giant invests in the country. Now, Indonesia has also banned another international company from operating in the country, this time the China e-commerce platform Temu.

Not only that, the Indonesian Government has also requested Google and Apple to block the Temu application on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, respectively, so that it can’t be downloaded in the country.

Indonesia bans Temu because its prices are too cheap

Budi arie setiadi

According to Reuters, the move was made pre-emptively before Temu could be accessed by Indonesians to protect the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Indonesia Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi was quoted as saying that the move to ban Temu was because of the e-commerce platform’s super low prices for goods that would affect local SMEs.

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Budi added that Temu’s practice of connecting consumers with factories in China for significantly lower prices is “unhealthy competition”.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Government will also block any investment by Temu in local e-commerce if it makes such a move.

He stressed,

“We’re not here to protect e-commerce, but we protect SMEs. There are millions we must protect.”

Indonesia also previously banned TikTok Shop due to its low prices

This move isn’t actually new, as last year, Indonesia also banned TikTok Shop from operating in the country due to its low prices.

As for Malaysia, Temu has been operating in our country since September 2023.

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So, what is your opinion on Indonesia’s Temu ban? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Also read: Indonesia Bans Apple from Selling the iPhone 16 Series Until the Tech Giant Invests in the Country