New bills on customs submitted<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): New customs and excise bills would allow the
\ngovernment to impose anti-dumping tariffs and countervailing
\nduties, curb the importation of pirated goods and abolish excise
\nduties on sugar and kerosene.<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, who presented three bills
\non customs, excises and capital markets to the House of
\nRepresentatives yesterday, said that the power to impose anti-
\ndumping tariffs and countervailing duties will help combat unfair
\ntrade practices.<\/p>\n
\"Economic relations among countries have been marked with such
\ntight competition that it could lead to unhealthy trade practices
\nsuch as dumping and subsidization....The customs bill, when
\nenacted, would allow the government to impose anti-dumping
\ntariffs and countervailing duties,\" Mar'ie said.<\/p>\n
The new customs bill stipulates that anti-dumping tariffs
\nshall be imposed when the prices of imported products are well
\nbelow their normal value or when the importation of certain
\nproducts endangers or causes losses to domestic industries
\nproducing similar goods or hinders the development of similar
\nindustries.<\/p>\n
Under the new bill, the government would be able to use
\ncountervailing duties to stop the importation of over-subsidized
\nproducts which could undercut the prices of locally-produced
\ngoods and, therefore, endanger certain domestic industries.<\/p>\n
The customs bill also looks seriously at the violation of
\nintellectual property rights, which has been common in developing
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Pirated products<\/p>\n
Mar'ie said the bill will help the customs office curb the
\nimportation of pirated products. With written orders from
\ndistrict courts, customs officials can postpone the retrieval of
\nproducts from customs areas whenever there is strong evidence
\nthat the products are pirated.<\/p>\n
The new bill will also allow the holders of any trademarks in
\nIndonesia to directly ask the customs office, through a local
\ndistrict court, to hold up any suspicious products in customs.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie said the new bill will also improve the supervision of
\nthe importation and exportation of toxic waste and endangered
\nspecies.<\/p>\n
He assured that the bill is adapted to international
\nagreements where Indonesia is a signatory, including the World
\nTrade Organization (WTO).<\/p>\n
\"Currently our highest import tariff is 175 percent, apart
\nfrom a 100 percent surcharge.... Under the new bill, however, the
\nhighest import tariff will be only 40 percent, in accordance with
\nour commitment to WTO,\" Mar'ie said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the government will continue its tariff
\nreduction program but will also take into account the condition
\nof domestic industries.<\/p>\n
The bill, which will replace three old rulings produced under
\nthe Dutch administration between 1873 and 1910, also includes
\nmeasures on trade facilitation.<\/p>\n
The bill will set duties of zero percent on raw materials
\nimported by export-oriented industries, on special gifts for
\ncharity, religious and cultural purposes as well as on weaponry
\nand military equipment.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the excise bill, Mar'ie said the bill no longer
\nincludes duties on sugar and kerosene because they are considered
\nto be primary needs.<\/p>\n
The new bill would limit the number of goods subject to excise
\nduties to ethyl alcohol, ethanol, alcoholic drinks and
\ncigarettes.<\/p>\n
The maximum duty to be imposed on those commodities is 150
\npercent of their basic prices.<\/p>\n
\"The imposition of the maximum duty is not meant to increase
\ngovernment revenue in the excise sector but to control the
\nproduction and consumption of those commodities whose effects
\ncould endanger health, environment, security and order,\" Mar'ie
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Excise duties will not be imposed on commodities meant for
\nexport, packed for sale, or for gifts and charities. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-bills-on-customs-submitted-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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