Indonesia Assesses Impact of Trump's Import Tariffs, Sends High-Level Delegation to Washington D.C.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has dispatched a high-level lobbying delegation to Washington, D.C., United States, to address the recently imposed import tariffs policy initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

These tariffs, termed "Reciprocal Tariffs," are scheduled to take effect on April 9, 2025, with Indonesia identified as one of the nations facing substantial duties, amounting to 32 percent.

"The government has sent a high-level lobbying team to negotiate with the U.S. government," Hasan  Nasbi, the Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), stated in a written release on Friday, April 4, 2025.

The government is currently evaluating the potential impact of this policy on its national economy. As an initial step, regulatory simplification measures have been initiated to enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian products.

Meanwhile, the Deputy for Dissemination and Information Media of the PCO, Noudhy Valdryno, conveyed that President Prabowo has formulated three key strategic initiatives to navigate global policy uncertainties, including the newly announced U.S. tariffs. These strategies include diversifying Indonesia's trading partners, accelerating the downstream processing of its natural resources, and bolstering the resilience of domestic consumption.

"In facing global challenges, including the United States' new tariff policy, President Prabowo demonstrates sharp insight into geopolitical dynamics. A profound understanding of international relations and global trade is a main strength in safeguarding Indonesia's economic stability," Noudhy said in an official written statement from the PCO on April 3, 2025.

In a public address delivered in Majalengka on Monday, April 7, 2025, President Prabowo affirmed Indonesia's intention to engage in negotiations with the U.S. to pursue equitable and reciprocal trade relations. "We will convey our desire for good, fair, and equal relations, based on reciprocity. Therefore, the requests made by the U.S. must be respected," he asserted.

However, the negotiation process is encountering diplomatic complexities. The position of the Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. has remained vacant since Rosan Roeslani was recalled to Indonesia in July 2023. Rosan currently serves as the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming.

This diplomatic vacancy has raised concerns about potentially weakened bilateral communication channels. Tubagus Hasanuddin, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I, urged an immediate appointment of a new ambassador. "I believe this situation is not good. Therefore, a candidate must be appointed promptly to fill this vacancy," he emphasized.

President Trump officially announced the reciprocal tariff policy on April 2, 2025, targeting several Asian countries. Indonesia and Taiwan face a 32 percent tariff, while Singapore is subject to a 10 percent tariff, and Cambodia faces the highest tariff rate. In the official statement released by the White House, the justifications for imposing import tariffs on Indonesia include high existing ethanol tariffs and the policy of parking export revenue from natural resources.

Eka Yudha Saputra and Ilona Estherina contributed to the writing of this article.

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