Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan revealed plans to establish a Task Force on Illegal Imports, which will include police officers and representatives from the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung).

"I have initiated law enforcement measures against the influx of illegal products. With support from the Attorney General and the Chief of Police, we hope the task force will be operational in the next couple of days. We have already identified the hotspots and will begin field operations," Zulhas said on Wednesday.

While the Trade Ministry already has an internal team focused on combating illegal imports, Zulhas emphasized that the new task force, composed of law enforcement officers, will bolster legal actions against illegal importers.

"Law enforcement involves specific authorities. We cannot prosecute individuals without proper legal proceedings. Therefore, we are collaborating with the police and the Attorney General," he explained.

Zulhas mentioned that the formation of this task force is in response to numerous reports from business associations such as the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), the Indonesian Textile Association (API), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

He stressed that the crackdown will target all illegal goods, including counterfeit products. The ministry has already mapped out areas where illegal goods are prevalent, primarily in regions like Batam and South Sulawesi.

"We will check all illegal goods. We are aware of the modus operandi and have identified the hotspots. These include Banten, Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, North Sumatra, Batam, and South Sulawesi," Zulhas added.

Kadin has expressed concerns about the influx of imported products flooding the market and has urged the Trade Ministry and related agencies to rigorously assess incoming product types and entry routes.

Additionally, Kadin has proposed establishing a task force to combat illegal imports as Indonesia considers imposing a 200 percent import duty on imported goods such as clothing, steel, and textiles, citing challenges faced by domestic industries competing against cheaper imports.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-to-establish-task-force-to-combat-illegal-import