Textile Association Asks For Regulations On Restrictions On Data Import Quota And Transparency

JAKARTA The Executive Director of the Indonesian Textile Association (API), Danang Girindrawardana, stated that the national Textile and Textile Product (TPT) industry is reportedly in a stagnant situation due to the massive attack of imported textile goods that are out of control, thus closing the growth opportunities of the domestic industry.

Danang argues that the main problem has a root in the lack of transparency in determining the textile import quota. He suspects that this has become an easy gap in "games" by law enforcement officials (APH), which further exacerbates the competitiveness of local products.

"Our textile industry has stagnated due to the uncontrolled invasion of imported goods. This is exacerbated by the lack of transparency in the determination of the import quota. We suspect this gap has been exploited by APH individuals for personal gain, which ultimately harms domestic producers," said Danang, in a written statement received on Saturday, November 22.

Danang urged the government to be transparent regarding importer data and conduct audits of ministry officials.

Danang regrets that until now the textile importer data has not been transparently disclosed on web pages that can be accessed by the public.

The absence of access, he said, is very difficult for the supervisory function by APH and the public regarding the practice of naughty importers who are indicated to have committed fraud or dumping.

"How can we monitor naughty importers if the data is not disclosed? We need to know who gets the quota and how many, so that there is accountability. Without data transparency, supervision becomes nil and the potential for quota games is getting higher," he explained.

API conveyed two requests to the Government:

1. Ministry Official Audit: Danang explicitly requested that officials in the relevant ministries be audited immediately in connection with the management of importer data. This request aims to ensure integrity and accountability in managing import quotas and breaking the chain of alleged bribery or abuse of authority.

2. Complete Regulation Study: API urges a comprehensive assessment of the import licensing process, a large number of variable forms, as well as a variety of Technical Regulations (Pertek) issued by the relevant ministries. This is important to create simple, effective, and non-overlapping regulations.

Danang said that the API appreciated the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Industry (Kepmenperin) Number 27 of 2025 concerning Procedures for Issuing Textile Import and Textile Product Technical Considerations, as well as Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 17 of 2025 concerning Textile Import Policy and Regulation and Textile Products.

According to him, these two regulations are expected to become strong legal instruments in controlling the flow of imports and providing real protection for local industries.

"We appreciate this new regulation as the good intentions of the Government. However, the main key is firm implementation in the field and the courage to clean up practices that harm the industry. Without transparency of data and audits, any regulations will continue to be paper tigers," concluded Danang.