"Indonesia must secure lower tariffs that are on par with those given to competitor countries," the minister remarked at a press conference titled “Recent Developments in Indonesia-US Trade Negotiation and Diplomacy,” as monitored online from here on Friday.
These competitor countries include those in the Southeast Asian region, as well as other Asian countries such as India, China, South Korea, and Japan.
Currently, Indonesia's main export products, including garments, footwear, textiles, furniture, and shrimp, face higher import duties compared to ASEAN and other non-ASEAN countries.
Moreover, with the 10 percent global base tariff imposed on Indonesia for the next 90 days, the average tariff on Indonesian garments could reach up to 47 percent. This is because, before the imposition of the 10 percent tariff, garments from Indonesia were already subject to tariffs ranging from 10 to 37 percent.
During the tariff negotiation with the US, Hartarto affirmed that the Indonesian delegation would push for tariff parity for Indonesian products.
"We ask the tariff to be more fair and that we are not given higher tariffs," he added.
Indonesia's negotiations with the US are a response to the reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including Indonesia, announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025.
Under the tariff policy, Indonesia is subject to a reciprocal tariff of 32 percent, while other ASEAN countries face different tariff rates: the Philippines at 17 percent, Singapore at 10 percent, Malaysia at 24 percent, Cambodia at 49 percent, Thailand at 36 percent, and Vietnam at 46 percent.
President Trump also announced a 90-day delay in implementing the reciprocal tariffs for most countries, excluding China. Indonesia is among the countries that received the full three-month deferment.
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Translator: Putu, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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