JAKARTA: Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) emphasized that there are no plans to revise Minister of Trade Regulation 36 of 2023 concerning Policies and Regulations on the Import of Foreign Goods.
According to Zulhas, the existing regulations actually make it easier for people who want to travel abroad while still protecting domestic products from competition from imported products.
Previously, the General Chair of the National Mandate Party (PAN) had emphasized that Minister of Trade Regulation 36 was solely to protect domestic industry.
However, in the midst of the controversy regarding this Minister of Trade Regulation, Zulhas said that on March 14 the regulation would be revised.
“There are no plans to revise (the regulations). If we shop abroad, it is normal to pay tax when we return home.
Currently, the government is even providing concessions by not imposing taxes on all purchases. “For example, the bonus is that you don’t have to pay tax for two pairs of shoes, cellphones or bags,” he said to Kompas.com, Thursday (28 March).
“The Trade Minister’s regulation regarding complicated matters, yes, it’s like this, if we are the same as our own nation, it’s always too much, you know,” added Zulhas as reported by Kumparan.com in response to the many complaints from the public on social media.
Furthermore, the 61-year-old minister revealed that inspection procedures by Customs and Excise at Indonesian airports were still looser compared to many other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, Japan, Korea, Australia and Europe, which he said were more severe.
“The shoes were taken off, the pants were pulled down, let alone just the bag. It’s normal for Customs and Excise to carry out an inspection, it’s natural for those who are suspected to have their suitcases checked and their suitcases opened. That’s something normal, why make a fuss,” he said.
Limitations on the number of goods brought in from abroad have been implemented by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance since March 10 2024, which involves a shift from post-border to at-border supervision.
This restriction applies to all passengers, including Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) returning to Indonesia.
For passengers who exceed the stipulated luggage limit, Customs and Excise will charge import fees in accordance with applicable regulations, with an import duty rate of 7.5 percent and Value Added Tax (VAT) of 11 percent, according to the type of goods carried.
Goods that are subject to customs duties are goods that exceed the regulatory limits, namely two pairs of footwear products, two bags, five finished textile goods, five units of electronic goods with a total price of 1,500 US dollars and 2 mobile phones, handhelds and tablet computers each. passengers within a period of 1 year.
