DPD Chairman Sultan: Prabowo's Trade Diplomacy Strengthens Koperasi Merah Putih Development

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesia has reportedly secured a reduction in export tariffs from a potential 32 per cent imposed by United States President Donald Trump down to 19 per cent, along with zero-tariff access for strategic commodities including palm oil, cocoa, spices, rubber, electronic components including semiconductors, and aircraft parts. A total of 1,819 tariff lines have been granted this preferential access.

In response, Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Sultan Baktiar Najamudin said the trade agreement has the potential to strengthen the development of the national economy through village-based cooperatives.

“President Prabowo’s trade diplomacy achievements will have a tangible impact on the development of Koperasi Merah Putih, and will directly create millions of jobs in Indonesia’s real sector,” Sultan said in an official statement on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

He added that the trade agreement between Indonesia and the US amid geopolitical turbulence demonstrates President Prabowo Subianto’s adeptness in applying Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy among the leaders of developed nations.

“Beyond the promising market potential of both countries among G20 nations, this positive achievement is supported by mutual understanding and a shared vision for economic development as well as an agenda to realise world peace between the leaders of both nations,” he stressed.

The former deputy governor of Bengkulu further urged regional governments to follow up on the positive outcomes of President Prabowo’s trade diplomacy by preparing downstream processing ecosystems for leading plantation commodities in their respective regions.

“Regional governments must proactively welcome the president’s diplomatic trade gift by developing leading export commodities through Koperasi Merah Putih. In the context of global competition, the imbalanced tariff differential is a critical determinant of price competitiveness in major global markets,” he said.