Many Imported T-shirts Sold For IDR 50,000, Trade Minister Zulhas: It's Definitely Not True That's How It Comes In

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan suspects that if an imported T-shirt is sold at a price of IDR 50,000 per piece in the market, it is reasonable to suspect that the item will enter in a way that does not meet the provisions.

"For example, a t-shirt, if you enter here (Indonesia), you will be charged (income fee) of Rp. 60,000, so if there is an imported t-shirt, the price is Rp. 50,000, that's impossible, that means that's not the right way to enter," said Zulkifli during a working meeting with Commission VI DPR RI in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday 9 July.

The Trade Minister said that if an imported T-shirt is sold at a cheaper price than an import fee of Rp. 60,000 per piece, then according to him, the goods are not in accordance with the provisions.

"Anyway, that (including) is not true, because if a t-shirt enters here (Indonesia), one piece is subject to a tariff of Rp. 60,000. How come this is sold for Rp. 50,000. That's one example," said the Trade Minister.

Therefore, he revealed that his party together with the Association of Indonesian Shopping Center Retailers and Tenants (Hippindo) formed a task force (task force) to overcome illegal imported goods.

He said that the formation of the task force was a follow-up meeting with a number of associations such as Hippindo, who on average complained about the large number of illegal goods.

"Therefore, our conclusion was temporary, later it will be finalized, we will create a task force with associations, with consumer protection agencies, with the Ministry of Trade," said Zulifli.

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas said that the formation of the task force would later be to check the marketing of illegal imported goods in the market.

Zulhas also said that the formation of the Task Force would involve consumer protection agencies, a number of associations to law enforcement.

"We will see later in the market, survey, see, what happened. It's true that this is not illegal," said Zulhas.

Even so, Zulhas did not specify when to form the task force because a follow-up meeting would still be held by inviting stakeholders regarding this matter.

However, he emphasized that his party together with the task force would later go to the markets to directly check a number of items.

He added that certain items must have SNI, such as women's clothing and children's clothes. Without SNI, the entry procedure is suspected to be illegal.

"If we get an entry of Rp. 60,000, how come there are imported shirts for Rp. 50,000? So, we are together with associations, consumer protection institutions and us, if we can, members of the House of Representatives Commission VI encourage us, when we go to the market together, we'll see what the evidence is rich," said the Trade Minister.