Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The trade negotiation process between Indonesia and the United States (US) continues to progress. The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, stated that all relevant US institutions, such as the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of Commerce, and the US Treasury, are being engaged to gain a comprehensive picture.
“The negotiation process with the US is being pursued through all available channels—through the USTR, the Department of Commerce, and now also through the US Treasury. This is, of course, to obtain a more complete understanding of the expectations from the US and how the US government makes decisions regarding their various trade partners, including Indonesia,” said the Finance Minister during a virtual press conference on Friday (April 25), as quoted from the official statement by the Ministry of Finance.
The Finance Minister added that the bilateral agenda between Indonesia and the US for dialogue and negotiation has received a positive response from the US. The proposal presented by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto was appreciated for being the most comprehensive and detailed, portraying a mutually beneficial partnership for both countries. In addition, Indonesia’s reforms and deregulations have also been seen as contributing solutions to bilateral and global issues.
“This is a recognition from the US of the steps taken by Indonesia. With the initial communication already mentioned—Indonesia being among the first movers—it is believed that this will provide an advantage or benefit to Indonesia’s position in the negotiation process,” explained the Finance Minister.
Minister Sri Mulyani expressed hope that the negotiations would yield positive outcomes—not only for Indonesia but also for the global economy.
“This positive feedback will certainly serve as a basis for us to continue discussions at the technical level, with the hope that it will bring benefits to Indonesia’s economy as well as to the regional and global economies,” said the Finance Minister.
During the 2025 IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, the Minister also compared notes with finance ministers from other countries regarding their trade relations with the US. In agreement with other nations, the forum was also used as a platform to reduce tensions and reach mutual understanding, thereby safeguarding national and global economies from the risk of economic downturns or even recession. “That is the spirit that we continue and will continue to carry forward,” concluded the Finance Minister.
