YOGYAKARTA:Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has affirmed that all countries, including Indonesia, have the right to impose anti-dumping import duties (BMAD) and safeguard import duties (BMTP) to protect their domestic industries, Indonesian News Agency (Antara) reported.
“An increase in imports of products for three consecutive years could destroy our industries. That is why Indonesia and all other countries are allowed (to impose import duties),” he said after attending a commemorative event in Yogyakarta city, Yogyakarta province, on Saturday.
Hasan said Indonesia would impose import duties based on the results of the calculation presented by the Indonesian Trade Protection Committee (KPPI) of the Trade Ministry.
“The amount of duty will be calculated by them (KPPI). This practice is permitted by Indonesian regulations, as well as international provisions developed by the World Trade Organization. Therefore, all countries are allowed to take such a measure.”
He stressed that the KPPI is currently monitoring the influx of seven imported products, including textile products, ceramics, electronic devices and cosmetics, which have seen an increase in supply in domestic markets over the past three years.
“We can impose anti-dumping duties on imports of these products if they are considered a threat to domestic industries.”
Earlier, on June 25, President Joko Widodo held a limited meeting with several ministers in response to the closure of several domestic textile companies.
During the meeting, the President stressed that the government is considering re-issuing Minister of Commerce Regulation No. 8 of 2024, which is an amendment to Minister of Commerce Regulation No. 36 of 2023 regarding import policies and regulations.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the reintroduction of the regulation could help end waves of layoffs in the textile industry.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed that the government is drafting regulations on the imposition of BMAD and BMTP to protect the domestic textile industry.
“Our main objective is to provide continued and reasonable protection to the domestic industry against unfair competition resulting from imports,” she said in a press conference held online from Jakarta on June 27. – Bernama, ANTARA
