Minister Of Industry Agus: We Support Government's Steps To Stop Imports Of Used Clothes

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is known to be looking for a source of imported used clothing which is known to disrupt the domestic Textile and Textile Product (TPT) industry.

Responding to this, the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita emphasized that his party supports the ban on importing used clothes.

"What is certain is that we support and we have a big interest in the industry. Not only used clothes, but the former ones if imported are not allowed," said Minister of Industry Agus in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 15.

He said the issue of importing used clothes was no longer about economic or environmental circulars, but all matters related to imports should not happen and must be stopped immediately.

"The Ministry of Industry is focused on this at this time. E-commerce is also certainly not allowed," he said.

To stop this, Agus continued, his party will later form a team, one of which is from the Law Enforcement Apparatus (APH).

"Earlier, there was an order from the president, later we will form a team and most importantly from the Law Enforcement Apparatus (APH) later," he explained.

According to Agus, his party will coordinate with law enforcement officials to determine the right steps in stopping the import of used goods.

"There will be many ways later, but most importantly APH. We will discuss it further later," he concluded.

Previously, President Jokowi said that imports of used clothes greatly disrupted the development of the domestic industry.

"I have ordered to find the truth and many people have met every two days. It interferes with the domestic textile industry," said President Joko Widodo after attending the inauguration of the opening of the 2023 Domestic Product "Business Matching" in Jakarta as reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 15.

Used clothes themselves are items that are prohibited from being imported based on the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 18 of 2021 as amended by the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 40 of 2022 concerning Amendments to Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 18 of 2021 concerning Prohibited Exports and Goods Prohibited from Imports.

"It is very disturbing, the import of used clothes is disturbing, very disturbing to the domestic industry," added Jokowi.

The government says used clothing is prohibited from being imported because it has a bad impact on the domestic economy, especially MSMEs, and is also bad for the health of its users.