Coordinating Minister Airlangga Leads Bilateral Meeting with US Treasury Secretary on Reciprocal Tariffs
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto led a bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, DC, on Thursday afternoon (24/4/2025) local time, as a follow-up to the reciprocal tariff policy issued by US President Donald Trump on 2 April 2025.
The meeting marked rapid progress in Indonesia's economic diplomacy in responding to US trade policy. During the meeting, Secretary Bessent expressed appreciation for Coordinating Minister Airlangga's official letter, which he described as "a very good start" in maintaining bilateral relations.
"I am grateful for Indonesia's commitment to continue strengthening economic cooperation with the US," said Bessent, as quoted on the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs website.
Indonesia is among the first group of countries to conduct intensive discussions with the US Government regarding this tariff policy. Previously, Coordinating Minister Airlangga had met with the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Commerce Secretary to convey Indonesia's official position.
Acting on the directive of President Prabowo Subianto, Coordinating Minister Airlangga affirmed Indonesia's commitment to increasing purchases of US commodities, including oil and gas, agricultural products, and critical minerals.
"We support fair and square trade. Indonesia will also carry out deregulation in import licensing, quotas, and local content requirements," Airlangga explained.
Technical negotiations are set to commence following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the USTR on 23 April 2025. "We are targeting the detailed discussions to be completed within 60 days," Airlangga affirmed.
The US Government also expressed interest in collaboration at the G20 (the US will hold the Presidency in 2026) and support for Indonesia's OECD accession as a momentum for deregulation reform.
Coordinating Minister Airlangga was accompanied by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Deputy Chair of the National Economic Council Marie Elka Pangestu, and Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, Ida Bagus Bimantara. The delegation also included business associations and the private sector as part of a collective economic strategy.
The meeting marked rapid progress in Indonesia's economic diplomacy in responding to US trade policy. During the meeting, Secretary Bessent expressed appreciation for Coordinating Minister Airlangga's official letter, which he described as "a very good start" in maintaining bilateral relations.
"I am grateful for Indonesia's commitment to continue strengthening economic cooperation with the US," said Bessent, as quoted on the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs website.
Indonesia is among the first group of countries to conduct intensive discussions with the US Government regarding this tariff policy. Previously, Coordinating Minister Airlangga had met with the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Commerce Secretary to convey Indonesia's official position.
Acting on the directive of President Prabowo Subianto, Coordinating Minister Airlangga affirmed Indonesia's commitment to increasing purchases of US commodities, including oil and gas, agricultural products, and critical minerals.
"We support fair and square trade. Indonesia will also carry out deregulation in import licensing, quotas, and local content requirements," Airlangga explained.
Technical negotiations are set to commence following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the USTR on 23 April 2025. "We are targeting the detailed discussions to be completed within 60 days," Airlangga affirmed.
The US Government also expressed interest in collaboration at the G20 (the US will hold the Presidency in 2026) and support for Indonesia's OECD accession as a momentum for deregulation reform.
Coordinating Minister Airlangga was accompanied by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Deputy Chair of the National Economic Council Marie Elka Pangestu, and Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, Ida Bagus Bimantara. The delegation also included business associations and the private sector as part of a collective economic strategy.