Cabinet Secretary: President Prabowo’s Diplomacy Cuts US’s Trade Tariff from 32% to 19%

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya delivers his statement to the media in Washington DC, Friday (02/20).

The economic diplomacy conducted by President Prabowo Subianto during his working visit to Washington D.C., United States, has yielded concrete results in the form of a nearly 50-percent reduction in trade tariffs, from the previous 32 percent to 19 percent, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has said.

“There was also the signing of the agreement, which stipulates 19 percent (of trade tariff), down from 32 percent last year to 19 percent,” Teddy said on Friday (02/20).

In addition to the tariff reduction, Teddy explained that the agreement also provides zero percent tariff facilities for 1,819 leading Indonesian products, particularly in the agricultural and strategic industry sectors.

“Secondly, there is zero percent tariff for 1,819 leading products, especially in agriculture and industry, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and then semiconductors,” Teddy added.

He also explained that the bilateral meeting served as a significant moment amid the packed agenda of the inaugural Board of Peace, which was attended by more than 15 heads of state and government. Among all the leaders present, President Prabowo was the only head of state to hold a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump.

“President Prabowo held a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump. There were more than 15 heads of state and government at the event, and the only head of state to hold a bilateral with President Trump was President Prabowo,” Teddy stated.

The Cabinet Secretary went on to say that following the agreement signing, the two leaders continued their discussions in a closed-door meeting. Various strategic issues were addressed in a constructive and productive atmosphere.

“President Prabowo and President Trump held a meeting for about 30 minutes, with plenty of discussions there, and we await, perhaps in the near future, what is now 19 percent may become even better for Indonesia. We will just wait and see,” Teddy remarked.

President Prabowo’s diplomacy in Washington underscores the Government’s commitment to advancing national economic interests through direct leader-level approaches. This agreement simultaneously opens wider opportunities for the expansion of Indonesian products in the global market and strengthens Indonesia’s position in the international economic architecture. (BPMI) (EST/LW)