Economic Coordination Ministry Spokesman Emphasises Agricultural Imports from US as Private Sector Responsibility Without APBN Use

The Indonesian government has confirmed that agricultural product imports valued at USD 4.5 billion (approximately IDR 75.6 trillion) from the United States do not utilise the State Budget (APBN).

Haryo Limanseto, Spokesman for the Ministry of Coordinating for Economic Affairs, stated in his official remarks on Sunday (1 March) that the importation represents a private sector initiative that does not draw from the State Budget.

“The government reiterates that the commitment to facilitate imports of agricultural products worth USD 4.5 billion under the Indonesia–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) represents policy support to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between Indonesian and American business actors, not purchases financed by the state budget,” Haryo said.

The import agreement has drawn scrutiny given the government’s repeated emphasis on food self-sufficiency.

Haryo noted that agricultural product imports from the US form part of Indonesia’s strategy to maintain trade relations. According to data from the Ministry of Trade, the US is Indonesia’s second-largest export destination.

“Accordingly, maintaining access to the American market through a balanced trade approach represents a rational step to protect the competitiveness of national products,” Haryo stated.