Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on\nSunday the government will safeguard national interests in all\npolicymaking, including the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must believe that I prioritize Indonesia\u2019s national interests,\u201d\nhe said in remarks broadcast in the \u201cPrabowo Answers\u201d program released\nby the Indonesian Government Communications Agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I think our national interests are threatened by any agreement,\nthen we can leave it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Prabowo said the agreement had undergone thorough evaluation before\napproval, with one key provision reducing trade tariffs from 32 percent\nto 19 percent.<\/p>\n
He also noted that Indonesia received what he described as special\ntreatment from US President Donald Trump under the deal.<\/p>\n
The government retains room to renegotiate should the agreement prove\ndetrimental to domestic interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agreed that if there are provisions not in line with the\nagreement or contrary to the interests of both parties, adjustment\nclauses will apply,\u201d Prabowo said.<\/p>\n
He added that the clause offers Indonesia flexibility to safeguard\nits economic sovereignty, describing it as a distinctive feature\ncompared with other US trade arrangements.<\/p>\n
From a trade perspective, Indonesia stands to benefit through broader\nmarket access, he said, with 1,819 strategic commodities granted\nzero-tariff entry to the United States.<\/p>\n
Key exports such as coffee and palm oil are included among products\neligible for tariff elimination, a move expected to benefit domestic\nproducers and exporters.<\/p>\n
The president said Indonesia would take a measured approach in\nresponding to global trade dynamics and would not automatically follow\npolicies adopted by neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
He cited, for example, decisions by some countries such as Malaysia\nto unilaterally withdraw from trade arrangements, stressing that\nIndonesia would act based on careful consideration.<\/p>\n
Prabowo emphasized that all economic diplomacy would be guided by a\nclear assessment of benefits for the Indonesian people.<\/p>\n
He reiterated that maintaining national interests remains the\ngovernment\u2019s top priority in navigating international agreements and\npartnerships.<\/p>\n
Related news: No increase in energy import quota under US trade deal:\nMinister<\/p>\n
Related news: DPR urges review of US-Indonesia trade pact<\/p>\n
Prabowo emphasizes national interests in RI-US trade agreements<\/p>\n
March 22, 2026 22:01 GMT+700<\/p>\n
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shared his views with experts\ninvited to discuss the matter at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor\nDistrict, on Thursday (March 19, 2026). (ANTARA\/HO-Indonesian Government\nCommunications Agency)<\/p>\n
Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Katriana<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-emphasises-national-interests-in-indonesia-us-trade-agreements-1774201841", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }