The Deputy Foreign Minister Says Indonesia Is Still Trying To Lower Trump's Tariffs From 19 Percent

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Wamenlu), Arif Havas Oegroseno, revealed that Indonesia is still working to lower the import tariffs signed by US President Donald Trump from 19 percent. 

He stated that before the tariffs take effect on August 1, 2025, the negotiating team of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto is still working to reduce them. 

"Yes, there are still two weeks, there are still discussions. So far, it has been reduced from 32 to 19 percent, and Mr. Airlangga's team is working on it for the next two weeks," Havas told reporters after the discussion "President Prabowo's Goodwill from the International World" in Jakarta on Saturday (July 19, 2025). 

He further commented on President Trump's claim that he would receive full tariff-free access to Indonesia. According to Arif, the products in question are not those used daily. 

"The only American products entering Indonesia are the large ones, soybeans and wheat. So, these products are non-competitive with ours, so we can't see them as 0, they're 19, it's not like that," he said. 

"So, the way to look at it is what the product is. So, if it's a United States product, it's not shoes, it's not apparel, it's not coffee, it's not in our everyday products," Arif added. 

Previously, US President Donald Trump officially announced a reduction in import tariffs on goods from Indonesia to 19 percent, lower than the previous 32 percent. 

Trump announced this decision as part of a bilateral trade agreement. 

"They will pay 19 percent, and we won't pay anything... we will have full access to Indonesia, and we have several agreements to be announced," Trump stated on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) local time, as quoted by Reuters. 

Tag: Arif Havas Oegroseno Donald Trump Import Tariffs Wamenlu