The Minister Reiterated The Necessity Of Market Expansion During The Tariff Negotiations With The United States

The Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag), Dyah Roro Esti Widya Astuti, has reiterated that the government is currently working to expand access to export markets for domestic products to other countries during the ongoing negotiations regarding reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States (US).

In Jakarta on Thursday, she conveyed the efforts being made to enhance export market access by strengthening and accelerating trade negotiations with other nations, including Tunisia, where a trade cooperation agreement is expected to be ratified soon.

"This year, God willing, the ratification will take place," she stated.

Wamen Roro also mentioned that, in addition to Tunisia, the government is engaged in trade negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Sri Lanka, the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Turkey, and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).

She noted that Indonesia currently has 19 free trade agreements or comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPA) that encompass ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Chile.

Previously, the Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, indicated that the government has completed various strategic trade negotiations to broaden export access to non-traditional markets.

Among these are the Indonesia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA), the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Area (I-EAEU FTA), and the trade agreement with Tunisia.

"The negotiations for IUAE-CEPA and I-EAEU FTA have been finalized. The agreement with Tunisia was also completed this month. These are all significant markets that we can enter," he remarked.

According to Budi, this step is a form of anticipation against potential disruptions in supply or demand from the market affected by the conflict.

United States President Donald Trump has decided to maintain an import tariff of 32 percent on Indonesia, unchanged from the "reciprocal tariff" value announced earlier in April, despite ongoing intensive negotiations with Indonesian representatives.

"Starting from August 1, 2025, we will impose a tariff of only 32 percent on all Indonesian products shipped to the United States, separate from other sectoral tariffs," Trump stated in a letter on White House letterhead dated July 7, addressed to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Tag: Dyah Roro Esti Widya Astuti Wamendag