New Duty-Free Ceiling to Save Domestic Industries, Says Govt
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Jumat, 27 Desember 2019 15:03 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Finance Ministry’s director-general of customs duty, Heru Pambudi, responded to the public rejection against the ministry’s duty-free import ceiling adjustment. The ministry recently announced that the duty-free ceiling had been changed from US$75 to US$3 per shipment.
“We do respect each and every viewpoint, but I must assert that the policy’s aim is to support domestic producers,” said Heru at the Customs headquarters in Jakarta on Friday. He also said it sought to create a level-playing field in the industry.
The policy, he said, was meant to stimulate the business growth of domestic producers at their own market. “We hope that domestic producers will not just market goods here, but also export them.”
Heru elaborated that local producers must be treated fairly, especially considering their status as taxpayers. He said that local producers had been pressured by the flow of imported goods that were mostly valued below US$75.
Previously, online citizens started a petition that strongly rejected the Finance Ministry’s duty-free ceiling adjustment policy via Change.org page.
CAESAR AKBAR
