Author
Mr Surya Oktaviandra
Organisation/Institution
University Hamburg
Country
GERMANY
Panel
International Regulation of Trade
Title
Strategic Protectionist or Making Regulatory Space: Indonesia case in Audio Visual GATS commitment
Abstract
Indonesia’s position on audio-visual services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) has long been characterized by the absence of explicit market-access commitments, particularly regarding emerging Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services. This omission raises a central question: does Indonesia’s unlisted status reflect a strategic form of protectionism, or was it a deliberate effort to preserve regulatory space in an uncertain and rapidly evolving technological sector? This paper investigates the intent and implications of Indonesia’s approach by examining policy documents, negotiation records, regulatory developments, and stakeholder perspectives across government agencies, domestic industry, and consumers. Based on this multi-source analysis, the paper finds that Indonesia’s decision to keep audio-visual services unlisted under GATS was largely intentional, preserving strategic regulatory space, while subsequent ASEAN frameworks reflect a controlled and progressive liberalization trajectory.
Biography
Surya Oktaviandra is an assistant professor in international law department in Universitas Andalas. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Hamburg University, Germany. His PhD thesis investigates Indonesia Audio Visual Commitment in international trade framework. His research interest also correlates with business, investment and human rights.
