Customs Office temporarily lifts export blockade for tax-indebted exporters

The Customs and Excise Office said Wednesday it would lift the blockade on exported goods until Sept. 20 to give exporters time to pay their non-tax debts.

Exporters have complained about the Customs Office’s new policy, effective from Aug. 1, which states that exporters need to pay the non-tax levies first, before they get permission to export goods.

The new policy has troubled exporters as many of them have not yet paid the non-tax levies, holding up exports.

On Wednesday, director general of customs and excise Anwar Suprijadi met with exporters and promised to lift the blockade until Sept. 20, while exporters settled their debts.

The resolution will ease exports at Tanjung Priok Port, which manages about 70 percent of all export-import activity in Indonesia.