Steel Association: Post Steel Import Border Policy Just Make the Manufacturer Become a Merchant

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, Since February 1, 2018, the government has changed the system of inspection of 1,073 harmonized system (HS) imported goods through post border system. Types of imported goods still subject to customs clearance include items related to health, safety, security, and the environment.

The Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) International Relations Director Purnowo Widodo said the post border policy for the interests of the domestic steel industry has positive and negative points.

He described, the steel industry itself consists of upstream and downstream. If steel is used as raw material then post border policy will make it easier. Therefore, the imported goods are not checked in the initial customs process but must report themselves.

"It's actually not checked in front but reporting itself later one day checked if violating means help," said Purnomo after the FGD event at Kadin Headquarters, Jakarta (7/1/2018).

However, he is still questioning if the imported product is commodity goods or done not by the steel industry and not used for raw materials. Therefore, the import of steel is greatly facilitated by the government by the Regulation of the Minister of Trade No. 22 of 2018.

"If it is so long as the raw material, because right downstream such as HR he need hrc, import hrc is okay it is very helpful, but if the hrc is not imported by producers but by traders so that commodities in trading that we look at , because it's so negative campaign for potential investors why I build up industry its better I trade alone, "he explained.

Prior to the existence of post border, the examination was conducted on the border by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance. This new policy is considered to reduce the accumulation of goods at the port and speed up loading and unloading time. Imported goods to be inspected are goods that are categorized as partial or restricted bans.

Imported goods still on the border will be inspected by apparatus of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in the form of fiscal inspection, such as tariff examination and customs value.