Purbaya Stands Firm on Illegal Used Clothing Trade Despite Tax Offers
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa states on Thursday Nov 20 2025 in Jakarta that Indonesia will continue to crack down on illegal used clothing imports as traders seek legalization and offer to pay taxes. He says the commitment aims to uphold import rules and protect domestic industry.
The Finance Ministry PT Kementerian Keuangan took the position that used clothing remained a prohibited item under national import rules.
Purbaya said the issue was not about taxation but the illegality of the goods. "I do not care about the thrifting business. What I control is illegal goods entering Indonesia," he said during the November edition of the APBN KiTa press conference at the Finance Ministry office.
He emphasized that paying taxes did not alter the status of secondhand apparel. "So it has nothing to do with paying or not paying taxes. It is illegal goods," he said.
Purbaya drew a comparison to illustrate his point. "If you collect taxes on marijuana, would that make it legal. That is roughly the comparison," he said.
Earlier, secondhand clothing traders brought their concerns to the Community Aspirations Board of Parliament on Wednesday Nov 19 2025. Trader Rifai Silalahi said the used apparel business involved around 7.5 million people across Indonesia.
Rifai told lawmakers that the trade had existed for decades and often passed from generation to generation. He said traders were ready to comply with tax obligations if the government legalized their operations. "So actually we hope that the inflow of thrifting goods can now be legalized, we want to pay taxes," he said.
Rifai said traders currently paid about Rp 550 million per container to ensure used clothing shipments passed into Indonesia, adding that around 100 containers entered each month.
He urged the government to issue limited import permits or a quota system for used clothing imports under a restricted-goods framework known as lartas.