"Our Ministry and Trade Ministry aim to protect the domestic market that has, so far, been supported by the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, it has been disrupted by the number of unrecorded imports that account for 31 percent of clothing, including illegal used clothing," he noted during a press conference in Jakarta, Monday.
Masduki remarked that the import of clothes, especially illegal second-hand clothing, disrupted the domestic market, as the local products cannot compete, in terms of the pricing, with illegal used clothes categorized as waste and did not require production costs.
"Illegal used clothes enter our country as waste. Our MSMEs cannot compete with it," he stressed.
In addition to unrecorded imports that reached 31 percent, in total, the Indonesian Textile Association noted that legal textile imports, in the form of apparel and footwear, controlled 43 percent of the domestic market, he remarked.
Hence, Minister Masduki and Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan agreed to impose restrictions on the imports of textile products. Currently, several countries have implemented restrictions.
For instance, strict palm oil exports to Europe and the export of bananas to the US market that necessitate verification through 21 certificates, and three of which must be reviewed every six months.
"Bananas with specks in them are not allowed to enter the international market. In my opinion, this aims to limit the domestic market from the invasion of imported products. We are too weak to protect our market, whether the imported products are legal or not," he remarked.
Masduki stated that in accordance with President Joko Widodo's instructions, his side, other ministries, and the police agreed to eradicate the imports of used clothing. Apart from acting against importers, the government will also educate traders to protect domestic products.
"They will face a legal issue if they sell illegal products. We have reminded the retailers and resellers of these imported used clothes that we will not carry out repression. It is different from drugs," he emphasized.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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