Indonesia Need Not Worry About US Food Imports, Says Mari Elka

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — US import tariff policy under President Donald Trump continues to create uncertainty for global trade. This uncertainty stems from the United States Supreme Court’s decision on 20 February 2026 to overturn the US policy of global reciprocal tariffs.

Turmoil over US reciprocal tariffs continued after Trump responded to the Supreme Court’s decision by imposing a new global tariff of 15%. In response, Mari Elka Pangestu, Deputy Chair of Indonesia’s National Economic Council (DEN), outlined several impacts for Indonesia.

Pangestu stated that whilst this situation does not invalidate Indonesia-US trade agreements, the 19% figure in the Indonesia-US trade agreement is no longer legally sound due to lacking justification. Accordingly, there will be a process to discuss changes to this arrangement. However, Indonesia’s position will be stronger than that of countries that have not yet signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART).

Regarding Indonesia’s imports from the US, Pangestu assured that Indonesia need not worry about food products, as the items imported are limited in quantity and cannot be easily produced domestically—such as wheat and soybean at commercial prices.

Pangestu discussed the impacts of the US-Indonesia trade agreement in a live dialogue with Syarifah Rahma during Squawk Box CNBC Indonesia.