The Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Producers Association (APSyFI) appreciates the government's attention to the problem of flooding of imported goods in the textile and textile products (TPT) sector.
APSyFI General Chair Redma Gita Wirawasta stated that President Joko Widodo's orders had been followed up by the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, especially the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) and the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).
However, APSyFI has not seen any improvement efforts made by the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), in this case the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in curbing wholesale import and underinvoicing practices.
Basically, APSyFI really supports the efforts being made by the Ministry of Industry which is currently working on a Mandatory Technical Standards policy for Apparel. APSyFI assesses that in the last year several countries such as India, Turkey and other large populous countries have implemented many barriers, both tariff and non-tariff barriers, to protect their domestic markets.
"So what the Ministry of Industry has done in the context of import substitution is very appropriate," explained Redma in a press release, Friday (27/10).
Yesterday's APSyFI meeting also showed the role of the Ministry of Trade, that on the other hand, this policy acts as consumer protection so that people avoid low quality apparel.
APSyFI also supports the government's plan to move post border supervision to the border, which the association has been fighting for for more than 5 years, because it is one of the sources of entry for illegal imported goods.
"In principle, inspection of goods after leaving the port is more difficult, but control at the border is no less difficult because it requires the integrity of Customs personnel as well as adequate systems and tools," explained Redma.
APSyFI gave a special note regarding law enforcement against illegal importers, including entrepreneurs, traders, logistics, including customs officers. This is because strict rules such as the Compulsory Technical Standards for Apparel that will be issued by the Ministry of Industry can always be circumvented if the players are still entrenched there.
Redma also suggested that the Director General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance immediately clean up, throw away what is dirty and develop what can still be developed. Moreover, it is common knowledge that illegal import practices do not only occur in the textile sector, but in almost all sectors.
"So it's better to improve, not deny clear data," concluded Redma.