Customs Responds to Trade Minister Statement on Postponing Import Restriction

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director of Communication and Guidance of Customs Service Users, Nirwala Dwi Heryanto, has spoken about Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan's statement that he will partially postpone the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation (MOTR) No. 36 of 2023. According to Nirwala, Customs must await a written decision by the Ministry of Trade before postponing the import restrictions.

Zulhas, the minister’s nickname, stated that the MOTR No. 36 of 2023 will be partially postponed and further discussions with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto are scheduled. 

"So the provisions without objections will proceed as usual while we rediscuss the problematic ones who are objected. The regulation will likely be implemented partially until the socialization process is complete,” Zulhas said in Jakarta, Sunday, March 17, 2024, as quoted from Antara.

Nirwala said that Zulhas' statement is not a legally binding provision. As long as there is no instruction, Customs cannot delay the implementation of the regulation, lest a legal problem arises. "If it is postponed, we will wait [for the written instruction]," Nirwala said on Monday, March 18, 2024. Three Customs employees and two inspection officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport were also present at the meeting with Tempo.

Nirwala admitted that Customs did have inputs in the MOTR, despite admitting that the agency is a mere executor of the provisions. According to him, Customs should not be authorized to supervise some post-border commodities. "It’s a heavy burden to supervise the post-border [commodities]," said Nirwala.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA

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