Indonesia Proposes Mutually Beneficial Trade Deal with the United States

Jakarta: President Prabowo Subianto expressed his appreciation for the intensive efforts that have been made in order to strengthen economic and trade relations between Indonesia and the United States. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that during his visit to the United States, he and his delegation had held strategic meetings with high-ranking United States officials and had achieved a number of important advances.

"In the negotiations, we have met with the U.S. Trade Representative, Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, Secretary of Treasury Bessent, met with the Director of the National Economic Council, and also with several other countries," said Airlangga in his press statement at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, April 28, 2025.

Airlangga said that President Prabowo welcomed the award given by the United States Government to the comprehensive proposal submitted by Indonesia. The proposal not only covers aspects of trade tariffs, but also non-tariffs and concrete steps taken by Indonesia to balance the trade balance fairly and equally (fair and square).

"So the trade balance is around 19, we give more than 19.5. Direct buying and selling is 19.5, but we also have a project that we will buy from America," he added, as stated from BPMI Setpres.

Airlangga also conveyed the plan of the Indorama company to invest USD2 billion in Louisiana for Blue Ammonia. In addition, critical minerals were also discussed with the United States.

Airlangga emphasized Indonesia's request for equal reciprocal tariff treatment for Indonesia's main commodities in the United States market. This is done so that Indonesia has an equal level playing field with other countries.

"Whether it is Vietnam, whether it is Bangladesh, so that we can have an equal level playing field with others," said Airlangga.

In order to ensure the acceleration of the implementation of the results of the negotiations, President Prabowo has approved the formation of three special task forces (Satgas). First, the task force that has been approved by President Prabowo for the follow-up of investment negotiations is the Trade, Investment and Economic Security Negotiations Task Force.

"The second task force that is ready is related to expanding employment opportunities and mitigating layoffs. And the third task force is regarding policy deregulation. Of course, the others are related to the Task Force for improving the investment climate and accelerating business licensing," he added.

The Indonesian government has also signed a non-disclosure agreement. This means that what is being discussed by the Indonesian government and the United States government is only for both parties.

President Prabowo also emphasized that all of Indonesia's approaches and offers in these negotiations are aimed at finding a win-win solution for both countries, without differentiating one partner country from another. "So it means that what we offer is relatively what we are doing domestically. Especially one of them is to carry out deregulation," said Airlangga.