Structural Inequality in International Trade Law: Colonial Legacies and Indonesia’s Legal-Policy Responses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28946/slrev.v10i2.5659Abstract
Legacies of colonialism remain deeply embedded in the architecture of contemporary international trade, particularly for developing nations such as Indonesia. The legal and institutional framework governing global commerce, largely shaped during the colonial period, continues to generate inequalities in market access, regulatory standards, and participation in global value chains. Indonesia, in particular, continues to grapple with persistent reliance on raw commodity exports, protectionist barriers imposed by advanced economies, and the outsized influence of multinational corporations within key economic sectors. This paper explores how these historical colonial patterns continue to shape Indonesia's contemporary trade policy, alongside the measures the country has adopted to address them—most notably its industrial downstreaming agenda, active engagement in regional and multilateral trade frameworks, and ongoing attempts to renegotiate trade arrangements on more favorable terms. The analysis further situates Indonesia's experience alongside comparable efforts by other developing economies, including Vietnam, Brazil, and South Africa, to confront similar structural constraints. Existing scholarship has generally treated the colonial roots of trade inequality and the domestic policy responses of developing states as separate lines of inquiry, leaving limited systematic connection between historical structural legacies and present-day measures like downstreaming, while cross-country comparisons remain scarce. This study addresses that gap by combining a historical-colonial lens with comparative policy analysis, offering a novel framework linking colonial-era trade structures to the effectiveness of downstreaming and economic diplomacy under current global trade governance underscoring the need for proactive diplomacy and stronger South-South cooperation toward a fairer trading system.Downloads
References
Adam, Bani, and Haniff Ahamat. “History Of Raw Material Export Restriction By European Powers: Revisiting Colonial Past.” Cendekia : Jurnal Hukum, Sosial Dan Humaniora 1, no. 2 (2023): 92–106. https://doi.org/10.70193/cendekia.v1i2.23.
Afandi, Frendy Ahmad. “Pemanfaatan Presidensi Indonesia Dalam G20 Untuk Pembangunan Ekonomi Hijau Dan Dekarbonisasi Indonesia 2060.” Jurnal Analis Kebijakan 6, no. 1 (2023): 86–95. https://doi.org/10.37145/jak.v6i1.441.
Álvarez-Albelo, Carmen D., Antonio Manresa, and Monica Pigem. “Growing Through Trade: The Role of Foreign Growth and Domestic Tariffs.” SSRN 04, no. 2015 (2015): 7. https://doi.org/Álvarez-Albelo, Carmen D. and Manresa, Antonio and Pigem, Monica, Growing Through Trade: The Role of Foreign Growth and Domestic Tariffs (November 6, 2015). XREAP WP 2015-04, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2686973 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2686973.
Alves, Luiz G A, Giuseppe Mangioni, Francisco A Rodrigues, Pietro Panzarasa, and Yamir Moreno. “The Rise and Fall of Countries in the Global Value Chains.” Scientific Reports 12, no. 1 (2022): 9086. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12067-x.
Ani, Layla Qodri, Amanda Khoirun Nisa, Amanda Gheanisa Lutfi, and Falah Al Ghozali. “Foreign Investment in The Era of Globalization: A Review of Legal Protection in The Perspective of National and International Law.” In Proceeding International Conference Restructuring and Transforming Law, 3:4–6, 2024. https://proceedings.ums.ac.id/icrtlaw/article/view/3677.
Azizah, Wafik, Binar Nan Baik, and Muhammad Reza Fahlefi. “Memahami Liberalisasi Perdagangan: Dampak Dan Implikasinya Dalam Konteks Ekonomi Global.” Jurnal Akademik Ekonomi Dan Manajemen 1, no. 4 (2024): 251–65. https://doi.org/10.61722/jaem.v1i4.3333.
Benuf, Kornelius, Siti Mahmudah, and Ery Agus Priyono. “Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Keamanan Data Konsumen Financial Technology Di Indonesia.” Refleksi Hukum: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 3, no. 2 (2019): 145–60. https://doi.org/10.24246/jrh.2019.v3.i2.p145-160.
Companjen, Françoise. “Dutch Colonies: Between Exploitation and Development BT - The Role of Culture in Economic Development: Case Studies from Former Empires.” In The Role of Culture in Economic Development, edited by Jérôme Dumetz and Emin Akcaoglu, 1–17. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94491-8_1.
Delanova, Marianne. “Health Diplomacy as an Instrument of Indonesian Foreign Policy.” Journal Of Global Strategic Studies 1, no. 2 (2021): 78–91. https://doi.org/10.36859/jgss.v1i2.849.
Febiola Wijaya, and Fitri Agustina. “PENGARUH ELEMEN-ELEMEN GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TERHADAP INTEGRATED REPORTING (Studi Pada Perusahaan Pertambangan Yang Terdaftar Di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) Tahun 2017-2019).” Technobiz 4, no. 2 (2021): 1–8.
Hendrasto, Nur, Muhammad Yusuf Ibrahim, and Tanti Novianti. “The Roles of Export of Coffee Commodity and Macroeconomics Factors on Unemployment in Indonesia.” Jurnal Social Economic of Agriculture 12, no. 2 (2023): 94. https://doi.org/10.26418/j.sea.v12i2.66113.
Hennessy, Alexandra, and Poppy S Winanti. “EU-Indonesia Trade Relations BT - A Geo-Economic Turn in Trade Policy? EU Trade Agreements in the Asia-Pacific.” In A Geo-Economic Turn in Trade Policy?, edited by Johan Adriaensen and Evgeny Postnikov, 319–42. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81281-2_14.
Humphrey, Stephen E., Nahrgang, Jennifer D., Morgeson, Frederick P. “Integrating Motivational, Social, and Contextual Work Design Features: A Meta-Analytic Summary and Theoretical Extension of the Work Design Literature.” Journal of Applied Psychology 95, no. 5 (2007): 1332–56. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2007-12832-011.
Hutabarat, Grace. “Sengketa Ekspor Nikel Indonesia Dengan Uni Eropa Di World Trade Organization.” Jurnal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional LINO 3, no. 2 (2023): 116–22. https://doi.org/10.31605/lino.v3i2.2896.
Idris, Aida, and Rahayu Hijrah Hati. “Social Entrepreneurship in Indonesia: Lessons from the Past.” Journal of Social Entrepreneurship 4, no. 3 (November 1, 2013): 277–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2013.820778.
IMF. “IMF Members’ Quotas and Voting Power, and IMF Board of Governors.” International Monetary Fund, 2023. https://www.imf.org/en/about/executive-board/members-quotas.
Izzatin, Naila Rohmah, and Badiatud Durroh. “Analisis Daya Saing Ekspor Kakao Indonesia Di Pasar Internasional Analysis of Indonesian Cocoa Export Competitiveness in International Market Nyata Terhadap Output Devisa Negara Dan Kakao . Sebagai Negara Penghasil Produk Dunia Menurut Informasi Internati.” Agro Bali : Agricultural Journal 6, no. 2 (2023): 337–49. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37637/ab.v6i2.1266.
Johnson SMT Pangaribuan. “Pengaruh Hak Kekayaan Intelektual Dan Perlindungan Hukum Hak Kekayaan Intelektual Bagi Pemberdayaan Umkm.” Jurnal Hukum To-Ra : Hukum Untuk Mengatur Dan Melindungi Masyarakat 10, no. 3 (2024): 456–70. https://doi.org/10.55809/tora.v10i3.414.
Juliastica, Febyanti, and Akim Akim. “Respon Indonesia Terhadap Putusan World Trade Organization Dalam Kasus Pelarangan Ekspor Nikel.” Jurnal Perdagangan Internasional 1, no. 2 (2023): 87–97. https://doi.org/10.33197/jpi.v1i2.1353.
Kallab, Tania El, and Cristina Terra. “The Colonial Exports Pattern, Institutions and Current Economic Performance.” Journal of Economic Studies 48, no. 8 (December 14, 2020): 1591–1623. https://doi.org/10.1108/JES-06-2020-0266.
Khaldun, Riady Ibnu. “Analisis Perdagangan Internasional Indonesia Pada Kebijakan ACFTA Dan AKFTA.” Jurnal Simki Economic 7, no. 1 (2024): 11–19. https://doi.org/10.29407/jse.v7i1.242.
Laksono, Riandy, Fajar Oktiyanto, and Yessi Vadila. “Labor Market Impact of Export in a Commodity-Dependent Nation: The Case of Indonesia.” Tokyo, 2024. https://doi.org/doi:10.56506/BQNN1863.
Le, Minh Son, Jen-Je Su, and Jeremy Nguyen. “Trade Liberalisation, Poverty, and Inequality in Vietnam: A Quantile Regression Approach.” Applied Economics 51, no. 36 (August 2, 2019): 3971–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2019.1588943.
Ludfi Arifin, Antoni, and Dadang Solihin. “Hilirisasi Pangan Guna Mewujudkan Ketahanan Ekonomi.” Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi Akuntansi Kewirausahaan 5, no. 2 (2025): 19–27. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29407/jpeaku.v5i1.25446.
Lusha, Evelina. “Navigating Geopolitics and Diplomacy in the Contemporary World: An Analysis of International Relations.” EIRP Proceedings 19, no. 1 (2024): 273–82. https://dp.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/EIRP/article/view/529.
Millia, Heppi, Ernawati Ernawati, and Heriberta Heriberta. “Do Foreign Direct Investment, Trade and Their Interactions Affect Economic Growth in Indonesia?” Jurnal Perspektif Pembiayaan Dan Pembangunan Daerah 11, no. 1 (2023): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.22437/ppd.v11i1.22698.
Mitchener, Kris James, and Marc Weidenmier. “Trade and Empire.” The Economic Journal 118, no. 533 (November 1, 2008): 1805–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02192.x.
Muhammad Afif Fadhli Az Zamzami, and Nur Azizah. “Indonesia Strategy in Increasing Economic Cooperation in African Countries.” Jurnal Sosial Humaniora 15, no. 1 (2024): 13–22. https://doi.org/10.30997/jsh.v15i1.12860.
Nada, Alya Viyan, and Hendri Hermawan Adinugraha. “Innovation in Halal Packaging and Labeling to Enhance Indonesian Processed Food Export Performance.” Journal of Islamic Economics Management and Business 7, no. 2 (2025): 157–72. https://doi.org/10.21580/jiemb.2025.7.2.28754.
Niode, Idris Yanto. “The Effect of Management Capability and Entrepreneurial Orientation on Business Performance through Business Strategy as an Intervening Variable.” Jurnal Manajemen Dan Pemasaran Jasa 15, no. 2 (2022): 255–74. https://doi.org/10.25105/jmpj.v15i2.13802.
Nisa, Dwi Putri Jeng Ivo Nurun, Darsono, and Ernoiz Antriyandarti. “Determinants of Cocoa Bean Trade in the International Market: Gravity Model Approach.” International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 18, no. 10 (2023): 3347–56. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.181035.
Nugroho, Anda, Widyastutik, Tony Irawan, and Syarifah Amaliah. “Does the US–China Trade War Increase Poverty in a Developing Country? A Dynamic General Equilibrium Analysis for Indonesia.” Economic Analysis and Policy 71 (2021): 279–90. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2021.05.008.
Nuraini, Candra, Aldianti Nurwansyah, and Dwi Apriyani. “Daya Saing Ekspor Lemak Kakao Indonesia Di Pasar Internasional.” Forum Agribisnis 14, no. 1 (2024): 50–58. https://doi.org/10.29244/fagb.14.1.50-58.
Pahleviannur, Muhammad Rizal, Anita De Grave, Dani Nur Saputra, Dedi Mardianto, Lis Hafrida, Bano Vidriana Oktoviana, Susanto Eko Edy, et al. Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Edited by Fatma Sukmawati. 1st ed. Pradina Pustaka, 2022.
Pelc, Krzysztof J. “Why Do Some Countries Get Better WTO Accession Terms Than Others?” International Organization 65, no. 4 (2011): 639–72. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1017/S0020818311000257.
Poddar, Somasree, and Sarbajit Chaudhuri. “Economic Reforms and Gender-Based Wage Inequality in the Presence of Factor Market Distortions.” Journal of Quantitative Economics 14, no. 2 (2016): 301–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40953-016-0031-x.
Prasetyawati, Niken. “Perlindungan Hak Cipta Dalam Transaksi Dagang Internasional.” Jurnal Sosial Humaniora 4, no. 1 (2011): 66–83. https://doi.org/10.12962/j24433527.v4i1.640.
Project, Bretton Woods. “Analysis of World Bank Voting Reforms.” Bretton Woods Project, 2010. https://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/2010/04/analysis-of-world-bank-voting-reforms/.
Purwono, Rudi, Lilik Sugiharti, Rossanto Dwi Handoyo, and Miguel Angel Esquivias. “Trade Liberalization and Comparative Advantage: Evidence from Indonesia and Asian Trade Partners.” Economies 10, no. 4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10040080.
Qudsiati, Aisyah Dwi, and Badrus Sholeh. “The Role Analysis of Indonesia’s Policy Strategy on Indo-Pacific.” Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies 3, no. 01 (2020): 39–50. https://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/jdis/index.
Ragimun, Abdullah. “Kerja Sama Perdagangan Barang Pada Forum RCEP Bagi Indonesia [Cooperation of Goods Trading on Rcep Forum for Indonesia].” Jurnal Ekonomi & Kebijakan Publik 9, no. 1 (2018): 67–81. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22212/jekp.v9i1.914.
Redi, Ahmad, and Luthfi Marfungah. “Perkembangan Kebijakan Hukum Pertambangan Mineral Dan Batubara Di Indonesia.” Undang: Jurnal Hukum 4, no. 2 (2021): 473–506. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22437/ujh.4.2.473-506.
Ricart-Huguet, Joan. “Colonial Education, Political Elites, and Regional Political Inequality in Africa.” Comparative Political Studies 54, no. 14 (March 14, 2021): 2546–80. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414021997176.
Sabila, Alana, and Hanindya Aditama. “Kebijakan Larangan Ekspor Minyak Sawit Indonesia Dalam Krisis Energi Dunia Saat Ini.” Journal of Social and Economics Research 5, no. 2 (2023): 189–99. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54783/jser.v5i2.132.
Saptanto, Subhechanis, Achmad Zamroni, Andrian Ramadhan, and Rizky Aprilian Wijaya. “Analisis Kebijakan Dampak Penyesuaian Harga BBM Bersubsidi Untuk Nelayan.” Jurnal Kebijakan Sosial Ekonomi Kelautan Dan Perikanan 6, no. 2 (2017): 85. https://doi.org/10.15578/jksekp.v6i2.3328.
Sari, Cut Dhea Permata, and Hendra Ibrahim. “Peran Politik Dalam Pembentukan Kebijakan Bisnis Perdagangan Internasional.” Wawasan : Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, Ekonomi Dan Kewirausahaan 2, no. 2 (2024): 241–47. https://doi.org/10.58192/wawasan.v2i2.1828.
Setianingtiyas, Fransisca Anggun. “Proteksionisme AS Terhadap Komoditas Aluminium Dan Baja Indonesia Pada Masa Perang Dagang AS-China.” Jurnal Pena Wimaya 2, no. 1 (2022): 21–44. https://doi.org/10.31315/jpw.v2i1.5297.
Siahaan, Marcelina Ribka Feonie Br., and I Gede Agus Ariutama. “The Impact of Regional FTA on Export of Manufactured Goods: The Implementation of Gravity Model in Indonesia.” Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Studi Pembangunan 13, no. 2 (2021): 100. https://doi.org/10.17977/um002v13i22021p100.
Sinaga, Yosephine Vincensia, Bonar M Sinaga, and Harianto Harianto. “Dampak Kebijakan Tarif Terhadap Perdagangan MInyak Sawit Dunia.” Jurnal Ekonomi Pertanian Dan Agribisnis 4, no. 1 (2020): 200–209. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jepa.2020.004.01.18.
Sinha, Aseema. “Understanding the ‘Crisis of the Institution’ in the Liberal Trade Order at the WTO.” International Affairs 97, no. 5 (September 1, 2021): 1521–40. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiab109.
Sofiaturrohmah, Siti, Muhammad Rifki Rosman, and Andi Kasman. “Keadilan Fiskal Dan Ekuitas Sosial: Pilar Daya Saing Ekonomi Makro Perdagangan Internasional Fiscal Justice And Social Equity: Pillars Of International Trade Macroeconomic Competitiveness.” JIANA: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi Negara 22, no. 3 (2024): 243–57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.46730/jiana.v22i3.8226.
Sousa, José de, and Julie Lochard. “Trade and Colonial Status.” Journal of African Economies 21, no. 3 (June 1, 2012): 409–39. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejs001.
Sugiharti, Lilik, Miguel Angel Esquivias, and Bekti Setyorani. “The Impact of Exchange Rate Volatility on Indonesia’s Top Exports to the Five Main Export Markets.” Heliyon 6, no. 1 (2020): e03141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03141.
Susanto, Danar Agus. “Implementation of Standards in International Trade: Benefit or Barrier? A Case Study from Indonesia.” Evergreen 9, no. 3 (2022): 619–28. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5109/4842518.
UNCTAD. “Target 10.6: Participation in Institutions.” United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2016. https://stats.unctad.org/Dgff2016/index.html.
Wati, Lina Asmara, and Jihyun Eum. “The Linder Hypothesis of Intra-Industry Commodity Imports in Indonesia’s Manufacturing Sector: Empirical Analysis Approach.” Global Business and Finance Review 30, no. 8 (2025): 188–206. https://doi.org/10.17549/gbfr.2025.30.8.188.
Wicaksono, Muchammad Andriato, Wahdiyat Moko, and Rofiaty. “Entrepreneurship Orientation on Msme ’ S Performance , Competitive Advantage and Innovation.” Interdisciplinary Social Studies 2, no. 3 (2022): 1729–42. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55324/iss.v2i3.361.
Wu, Qiong, Hindrik Bouwman, Ryan C Uren, Carl D van der Lingen, and Walter Vetter. “Halogenated Natural Products and Anthropogenic Persistent Organic Pollutants in Chokka Squid (Loligo Reynaudii) from Three Sites along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean Coasts of South Africa.” Environmental Pollution 255 (2019): 113282. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113282.
Wulandari, Alvira Rizki, and Dadan Suryadipura. “Diplomasi Komersial Indonesia Terhadap Australia Dalam Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) Pada Era Pemerintahan Joko Widodo (2014-2019).” Padjadjaran Journal of International Relations 3, no. 2 (2021): 103. https://doi.org/10.24198/padjir.v3i2.33521.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Andri Sutrisno
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
