Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Indonesian government continues its efforts in trade negotiations and diplomacy with the United States through a series of meetings with several senior U.S. officials. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and his delegation have held various strategic meetings with key authorities in the U.S. government, including the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Secretary of Commerce.
Minister Airlangga is also scheduled to meet with the Secretary of the Treasury to discuss tariff adjustments affecting Indonesia’s export products, including textiles, footwear, agricultural and forestry products. These strategic meetings aim to strengthen mutually beneficial economic partnerships between Indonesia and the United States.
“The Indonesian government is actively engaging with relevant officials in the United States as a continuation of the discussions already initiated with the USTR, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of the Treasury,”
said Airlangga Hartarto.
Indonesia is among the countries that have been granted early access to these discussions. The aim is to explore various options for bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the United States.
“We hope the trade situation we are developing is fair and balanced,”
said Minister Airlangga at a Press Conference on the Latest Developments in Indonesia–U.S. Trade Negotiations, held virtually from Washington D.C. and moderated by Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Spokesperson Haryo Limanseto in Jakarta on Friday (April 18).
Furthermore, Minister Airlangga stated that Indonesia has made several proposals to the U.S., including increasing purchases of energy, agricultural products, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services, as well as offering incentives and facilities for U.S. companies. In addition, Indonesia is opening up and optimizing cooperation in critical minerals, streamlining import procedures and processes for U.S. products, and encouraging strategic investments through a business-to-business scheme.
Indonesia also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in education, science, digital economy, and financial services. Additionally, Indonesia is seeking lower tariffs than those applied to competing countries for key export products that do not compete with domestic industries in the U.S., such as garments, footwear, textiles, furniture, and shrimp. Minister Airlangga also stressed the importance of ensuring the resilience of strategic product supply chains to maintain economic security.
“The key goal of the ongoing negotiations is for Indonesia to obtain lower tariffs, and for those tariffs to be balanced with those applied to other countries. Other targets will of course depend on the outcomes of the negotiation rounds, which may take one, two, or even three sessions,”
said Minister Airlangga.
The negotiation process will continue over one to three rounds, following the agreed-upon format and principles between Indonesia and the United States. Minister Airlangga further stated that both countries have agreed to conclude the negotiations within 60 days. The Indonesian government hopes that within this 60-day period, the cooperation framework will be formalized into a mutually agreed upon agreement.
“Of course, we are still working and meeting with various stakeholders, both from the business community and associations in the United States, who can help Indonesia approach the U.S. government. We hope that by engaging all stakeholders, Indonesia’s position in this negotiation can be finalized within the targeted 60-day timeframe,”
concluded Minister Airlangga.
Accompanying Minister Airlangga during this visit were Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono, Vice Chair of the National Economic Council Mari Elka Pangestu, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, and Deputy for Economic Cooperation and Investment at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Edi Prio Pambudi.
