Gde Sumarjaya Linggih, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VI, praised recent trade diplomacy achievements, including the reduction of US tariffs on Indonesian products from 32 percent to 19 percent, as a positive step toward expanding export opportunities.
"Going forward, exports must increase, governance must improve, and incentives for exporters must be enhanced," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Linggih also emphasized that export growth must be accompanied by improvements in the quality of local products. He urged the government to pay more attention to the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and traditional markets.
He also cited findings by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), which highlighted unclear quotas and non-transparent import procedures. In response, he called on the Trade Ministry to overhaul import regulations and strengthen oversight to ensure local products are not disadvantaged.
"We must move away from outdated practices. Trade governance must be modern, accountable, and prioritize national interests," he said.
Linggih expressed optimism that the tariff reduction could be leveraged to boost exports and increase state revenue.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had reached a historic agreement that "opens up Indonesia’s entire market to the United States for the first time in history."
Trump stated that under the agreement, Indonesia would pay a 19-percent tariff on all its exports to the US, while American exports to Indonesia would be exempt from both tariff and non-tariff barriers.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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