Robert Besser
17 Apr 2025, 11:38 GMT+10
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia is preparing a high-level visit to Washington with an ambitious offer to avert steep U.S. tariffs on its exports.
Top Indonesian officials will present proposals to increase imports from the United States and push forward investment plans as part of ongoing trade negotiations. The delegation, led by Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, will also include Foreign Ministry representatives.
The visit comes after President Donald Trump's administration imposed a 32% tariff on Indonesian goods, a move currently paused for 90 days to allow room for talks.
Airlangga confirmed that meetings will be held with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official at the coordinating ministry for economic affairs, said Indonesia would propose buying U.S. goods worth US$18 to $19 billion to offset the trade deficit.
Government data shows that Indonesia posted a $16.8 billion trade surplus with the United States last year, making the U.S. its third-largest export market. Indonesia's top exports include electronics, footwear, and apparel.
Todotua Pasaribu, deputy minister for investment, said the country may also suggest that its state-owned firms invest in strategic U.S. sectors such as oil, gas, and information technology.
"Strategically, we will look at what we can invest there that later we can absorb for our national interest," Pasaribu said.
The trade discussions follow weeks of tariff-related uncertainty and come as Indonesia seeks to protect access to its largest markets while exploring new avenues for economic partnership.
By proposing a combination of trade balancing and direct investment, Indonesian officials hope to persuade Washington to lift or reduce the punitive measures that could hit major sectors of the country's export economy.
The outcome of the meetings could determine whether the temporary tariff pause becomes permanent — or if Indonesian exports will face higher duties when the 90-day window closes.
Get a daily dose of Leeds Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Leeds Times.
More InformationDUBLIN, Ireland: One in three people killed or seriously injured on Irish roads in 2025 have been under the age of 30, according to...
LONDON - Google is facing a multibillion-pound legal challenge in the UK over allegations it misused its dominance in online search...
Lyft is making its first move into Europe with the purchase of mobility platform FreeNow, a nearly $200 million deal that signals a...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin's four local councils are joining forces to push for the introduction of a tourist tax, aiming to unlock a...
LONDON, UK: Electric vehicle sales surged globally in March, with strong growth in China and Europe offsetting slower momentum in North...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Residential burglaries have dropped by 75 per cent in Ireland over the past decade, according to new Garda figures,...
THE VATICAN - The world is in shock and mourning on Easter Monday as it woke to the news that Pope Francis had died. Having recently...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: A former New York City police sergeant, Michael McMahon, was sentenced this week to 1.5 years in prison. He...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered a stop to construction of Equinor's Empire Wind project off New York's...
SINGAPORE: Amid rising trade tensions, several Asian nations are stepping up energy purchases from the U.S. in hopes of easing tariff...
WASHINGTON DC - In a bid to combat illegal border crossings, the Trump Administration has enacted an emergency transfer of some 110,000...
More than 200 journalists and news photographers, together with family members, have been killed in Gaza in the last 16 months. Despite...