“We intend to synchronize our steps with businesses, industries, and trade unions,” Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi noted in an audio recording on Wednesday.
His remarks followed President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to create special task forces after an Indonesian delegation held tariff discussions with several senior US officials in Washington.
To move the negotiations forward while minimizing the potential impact of tariffs on domestic employment, the government will form the Task Force for Indonesia-US Negotiations, the Task Force for Job Opportunities and Layoff Mitigation, and the Task Force for Deregulation.
Regarding employment, Hadi emphasized that the government would empower the task force to address layoffs comprehensively by engaging with workers, employers, and industry representatives.
He also outlined the government’s deregulation efforts, elaborating that the assigned task force would focus on simplifying regulations to create a more investor-friendly environment.
“We are currently identifying key aspects to consider in our deregulation efforts, which are aimed at improving the investment climate and streamlining the process of obtaining business permits,” he noted.
On April 28, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto highlighted that the Indonesian delegation, which he led, had made significant progress in the Indonesia-US tariff negotiations.
Speaking to the media after briefing President Prabowo on the Washington visit, he confirmed that the head of state had approved the plans to form three task forces to further advance the ongoing talks.
"President Prabowo has emphasized the need to steer the negotiations toward win-win solutions, ensuring that both countries receive equal benefits," he affirmed.
He added that the US government responded positively to Indonesia’s proposals to strengthen bilateral economic relations in response to President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs.
“In principle, Indonesia’s proposals—outlined in a letter—were well-received by the US, as the contents were relatively comprehensive,” he said.
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Translator: Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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