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US 'appreciates' Indonesia’s proposal on bilateral trade
The government says the US has expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s position on bilateral trade and lauded Jakarta’s decision to get into negotiations early, as a high-ranking delegation wraps up talks in Washington, DC.
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Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto (second left) waves to journalists as he leaves the stage along with Deputy Investment and Downstream Minister Todotua Pasaribu (left), National Economic Council (DEN) deputy head Mari Elka Pangestu (second right) and Second Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir (right) during a press briefing on April 14, 2025, after a meeting on United States import tariffs held at Airlangga's office in Jakarta. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he government says the United States has expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s position on bilateral trade and lauded Jakarta’s decision to get into negotiations early, as a high-ranking delegation wraps up talks in Washington, DC.
The delegation led by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has held meetings with US officials aimed at averting an exorbitant US import tariff set to be imposed on Indonesian goods.
Airlangga said in an online press briefing on Friday that the team had met with US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the director of the US National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, over the past 10 days.
“Overall, the US government appreciates the strategy and approach as well as the proposals put forward by Indonesia. Both parties have agreed on a more intensive process on the technical level,” said Airlangga.
He went on to explain that working groups for five sectors had been formed to expedite the talks but refrained from elaborating further.
Jakarta has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the USTR, which Airlangga said marked the beginning of the bilateral negotiations, before revealing that 19 other countries were in the same phase.
Airlangga refused to disclose what Indonesia had proposed and what the White House thought of Jakarta’s offer, since “it’s a dynamic [situation], not a static position” given that the talks were in flux and “we can’t publish [details] until both parties have agreed on the materials”, due to the NDA.
