Agriculture Minister says zero tariffs to the US are a golden opportunity for Indonesia's agricultural exports

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that the 0% tariff exemption for Indonesian agricultural commodity groups to the US market through a reciprocal trade agreement represents a golden opportunity to significantly boost national exports.

‘This is a big opportunity. Big opportunity, why? Cocoa, crude palm oil (CPO), and our CPO shipments are the largest; rubber and others, God willing, will have zero tariffs,’ Amran said when contacted about progress on subsidised fertilisers at the departure ceremony for Poultry Exports and their By-Products to Japan, Singapore and Timor-Leste in Jakarta on Tuesday (3 March).

According to the minister, 53 agricultural commodities are assured zero tariffs under the reciprocal trade scheme, thereby opening access to the US market widely.

Prominent commodities such as cocoa, crude palm oil (CPO) and rubber are named as the products most advantaged by the tariff exemption policy.

The government ensures that the trade corridor for Indonesian agricultural commodities to the United States remains secure with no meaningful obstacles amid global trade dynamics.

Specifically for crude palm oil, Indonesia has supplied around 1.7 million tonnes to the US market, so the zero-tariff policy is seen as a golden opportunity.

‘Essentially, agriculture can enter the United States with zero percent. And we will push – especially for CPO because we are the largest, at 1.7 million tonnes. This is our golden opportunity; push cocoa, coffee; the US market is very large,’ Amran said.