The free movement of goods across national borders has long been a controversial issue. Some people argue that it is necessary for economic growth, while others claim that it damages local industries. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Globalization has affected various sectors of our lives, including the economic sector, the

flow

of goods across national borders is one of the examples. Actors that support

this

practice argue that it might help the country’s economy to develop through simplicity in exchanging goods across the borders.

On the other hand

, others believe that

this

practice might destroy the domestic industry, which makes

this

issue very debatable.

This

essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of free

flow

of goods across national borders. Taking Indonesia as the sample, it is one of the countries that enact the free

flow

of goods. The government believes that

this

practice might bring benefits to its economy. It increases the export rate and the GDP because Indonesia can expand its marketing of goods and services to other countries and the trade barriers or tariffs will decrease or even vanish. The government

also

claims that it can decrease the unemployment rate because lots of jobs will be created.

Moreover

, lots of investors will be more likely to invest in Indonesia,

therefore

it will bring a good impact on Indonesia’s infrastructure.

Besides

, with the tight competition that exist because of the free

flow

of goods, it can

also

stimulate the entrepreneurs and the local industries to compete and increase their skills, competencies, and standard which results in the betterment quality of Indonesian products.

On the other hand

, some people against the free

flow

of goods across national borders.

Instead

of increasing the export sector, they argue that the trade balance deficit in Indonesia can occur because several Indonesian products cannot fulfil the standard of the international market, like the Indonesia- EU palm oil cases. Seeing the nature of Indonesian where most of them feel more proud in consuming the foreign product, the import rate will increase and the inability to compete can cause harm to local industries.

Besides

, the existence of foreign investors and the job fields it promised will not be maximized, many foreign workers will flood Indonesia due to competition in the quality of human resources. Local workers will be increasingly marginalized if they cannot compete.

Moreover

, there is a possibility of the massive exploitation of natural resources that might trigger Indonesian environmental degradation In my opinion, globalization is something that we cannot avoid because whether like it or not it will keep happening, the same thing goes to the free movements of goods, it is something that sooner or later we will experience. I believe that the free

flow

of goods shall bring lots of benefits if both the government the citizen work together to execute it well.

Therefore

,

instead

of opposing and always seeing from the negative point of view, it will be wiser if we prepare ourselves,

thus

we can be ready to compete with the foreign actors. In conclusion, the free

flow

of goods across national borders brings both advantages and disadvantages depending on how the people see it and react to it. Indeed, it promises economic growth of the country,

however

, with wrong execution, it might

also

destroy the domestic industry.