Prabowo's Trade Envoy Speaks on 'Opportunities' as Trump's Tariffs on Pause

April 13, 2025 | 10:12 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump has recently declared a few months pause on his reciprocal tariffs. Deputy Chairperson of the National Economic Council Mari Elka Pangestu stated that Indonesia has an opportunity to engage with the U.S. and, at the same time, expand its market with trade partner countries in ASEAN.

The former Trade Minister mentioned that the 90-day suspension provides time for Indonesia to negotiate with the US. “The important thing is to enter with a positive attitude. Finding space for dialogue and seeking solutions with the U.S. I think we are still seeing a positive response,” she said on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

President Prabowo’s Special Presidential Envoy on International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation explained that a high-level delegation will go to the U.S. next week. According to Mari Pangestu, Indonesia's position is the same as other ASEAN member countries, agreeing not to impose retaliatory tariffs and not to increase trade protection.

The decision was revealed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) after the meeting held on April 9-10, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Based on the agreement of the economic ministers, ASEAN expressed support for a multilateral trading system based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). “We are committed to the WTO Multilateral Rules Based Trading System,” Mari Pangestu affirmed.

The 90-day period before the implementation of Trump's tariffs can be used to coordinate with ASEAN, such as seeking new partners, expanding the market between countries, engaging trade partners in dialogue, and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Previously, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati attended a meeting with the ASEAN finance ministers. According to Sri Mulyani, amid the current uncertainty, ASEAN has great economic potential if the government cooperates.

“With an economy worth $3 trillion and a population of over 650 million, ASEAN has the potential to further strengthen regional economic cooperation and growth,” said Sri Mulyani in an official statement on Friday, April 11, 2025.

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