Prabowo's diplomacy fast-tracks major trade deals: Minister

President Prabowo’s diplomacy is excellent, his presence on the international stage is very strong. Many trade agreements are being finalised quickly because of him,” the minister told the press at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Friday.

According to Santoso, this diplomacy resulted in Indonesia securing a 19 per cent reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States, signed in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, 19 February.

Furthermore, Indonesia has concluded negotiations for the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), the Indonesia-Canada CEPA, and the Indonesia-Eurasia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

“The IEU-CEPA was finally concluded thanks to his effective diplomacy. The same goes for the I-Eurasia FTA, the agreement between Indonesia and Canada, and most recently, the U.S. deal. These have moved fast and yielded excellent results,” he remarked.

The minister explained that the rapid completion of these agreements creates two major opportunities: attracting foreign direct investment and increasing exports through expanded market access.

He added that as more deals are secured, Indonesia’s export markets become broader and more competitive.

“If they invest and produce competitive goods, especially manufactured products, our exports will increase rapidly,” he said.

Previously, Indonesia and the United States agreed on a US$38.4 billion trade and investment commitment across various sectors.

These deals were formalised at the 2026 US-Indonesia Business Summit in Washington, D.C., co-hosted on Wednesday, 18 February, by the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and the US-Indonesia Society.