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RI-US trade negotiations in limbo as deadline nears
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Snited States President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on April 2, 2025, after delivering remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled “Make America Wealthy Again“ at the White House in Washington, DC. (AFP/Saul Loeb)
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alks between Indonesia and the United States remain in limbo just days ahead of a deadline both parties set for reaching a trade deal to avert punishing US import tariffs that would effectively shut off the world’s largest consumer market for many Indonesian products.
Asked where the negotiations currently stood, Edi Prio Pambudi, an undersecretary at the Office of Coordinating Economy Minister, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that Indonesia “is awaiting America’s response”.
Wednesday marked the 50th day since Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on April 18 that both sides had agreed to conclude the negotiations within 60 days.
The minister made that announcement from Washington, DC, as he helmed a delegation dispatched to initiate the talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Airlangga was accompanied by high-ranking government officials who met with their US counterparts from April 16 to 25 with the main goal of forestalling steep US import tariffs imposed on Indonesian export goods and getting a “fair and square” trade relationship.
A 32-percent so-called “reciprocal” tariff on Indonesian goods went into effect on April 9 but was suspended hours later for 90 days to open time for bilateral talks.
Edi said the two sides had engaged in dialogue to follow up on the initial Indonesian trade mission but admitted the previously agreed 60-day target to wrap up those talks was uncertain, as “Who can guess what President Trump might do?”
