Latest News

Tariff negotiations: Indonesia offers to purchase U.S. wheat and aircraft

In tariff negotiations with the United States its chief economist said that Indonesia would offer to increase purchases of aircraft for state carrier Garuda Indonesia, and wheat for instant noodle giant Indofood. Airlangga hartarto, the Southeast Asian nation’s chief negotiator and also its economics minister, told reporters that the government had also offered to reduce tariffs on American products such as agriculture, which pay between 0%-5% in tariffs.

Jakarta faces a tariff of 32% on US markets. It had previously stated that it would sign

A $34 billion deal

Indonesian partners will be meeting with U.S. counterparts next week to discuss a number of issues, including the commitment to purchase more U.S. products and investment by Indonesian firms in the United States.

Airlangga stated that the main U.S. exports would be subject to a near-zero tariff. However, it depends on how high our U.S. tariffs are.

Garuda CEO said that it was in talks with U.S. Boeing about buying up to 75 aircraft. Garuda or Indofood did not respond immediately to comments.

According to the U.S. trade representative, by 2024, the U.S. goods deficit with Indonesia will be $17.9 Billion. Indonesian data revealed that U.S. exports include aircraft, soybeans and petroleum gases.

Airlangga replied that military deals are not part of the negotiations when asked if they include trade deals.

Susiwijono Megiarso is a senior official at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Indonesia. He said that Jakarta had asked for preferential tariffs from the United States on its main exports including textiles, footwear, and electronics.

He added, "We want the tariffs to be as low as they can."

Indonesia also offers the United States investment opportunities in

Critical Minerals Projects

Its abundant resources include copper, nickel, and bauxite. Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman, Ananda Teresia and Clarence Fernandez; editing by David Stanway and Clarence Fernandez

(source: Reuters)