Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, made the announcement on Friday that Indonesia has been selected as one of the first nations to engage in discussions with the United States regarding the 32 percent import tariff imposed on Indonesian goods as a result of former President Donald Trump’s trade policy.
Hartarto stated at a press conference in Washington, D.C., that “Indonesia is among the first nations to be accepted for talks.” The conference was also streamed live to Jakarta-based reporters. He said that the Trump administration has started talks with Vietnam, Japan, and Italy that are similar to these, and that the talks show that Washington is more open to reevaluating old trade barriers. The minister confirmed that Indonesia has been actively advocating for a review of the punitive tariffs with senior U.S. officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
He stated that these discussions are a part of a larger strategy to resolve the conflict in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner within the next sixty days. Hartarto mentioned that the United States has shown a willingness to engage in more technical discussions, which he viewed as a positive signal in response to Indonesia’s proactive stance, highlighting signs of progress. The Indonesian delegation made a number of important suggestions to improve economic ties during the meetings. These include a promise to buy more American agricultural products like wheat, soybeans, and soybean meal and to import more liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil, and gasoline from the United States.
Additionally, Indonesia pledged to make Indonesia a more welcoming place for American businesses operating there and to increase its imports of capital goods from the United States. Hartarto provided a more in-depth explanation of the incentives that were being proposed, streamlined the procedures for obtaining permits, and improved collaboration in key areas like the development of human resources, critical minerals, and horticultural products. He added, “We have also persuaded the U.S. with more favorable financial services,” evoking new possibilities for bilateral banking and investment cooperation. The world’s trade landscape is changing, and countries are rethinking protectionist policies and trying to build stronger, more diverse economic partnerships.
The negotiations between Indonesia and the United States have the potential to strengthen strategic and economic ties between Washington and Jakarta while also establishing a precedent for other nations seeking relief from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
