Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed that the Indonesian government had carefully weighed every factor before entering into negotiations with the United States to lower import tariffs from 32% to 19%. He emphasized that the primary goal throughout the talks was to safeguard the interests of the Indonesian people, particularly the nation’s workers.
“We’ve done all the calculations. We’ve held negotiations. What matters most to me is my people. I must protect our workers,” Prabowo told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 16).
Despite the challenges, Prabowo said Indonesia maintained a firm stance throughout the negotiations.
“We’ve taken a position. This is our offer—we cannot give more. But what’s most important is that our workers remain protected,” he stressed.
The president also noted that Indonesia’s economy remains robust, resilient, and well-positioned to weather global uncertainties, including ongoing trade tensions.
“I’m very optimistic. Our economy is in a strong position. Whatever happens, we’ll hold steady,” he said.
Discussing the tariff talks with the U.S., Prabowo described the negotiations as tough but ultimately productive. A mutual understanding was reached after both sides acknowledged each other’s strategic interests.
“We’ve come to understand their priorities, and they’ve come to understand ours. That’s how we reached an agreement,” he explained.
“The tariff has been reduced from 32% to 19%. I kept negotiating—I told [U.S. President Donald] Trump, who is himself quite a tough negotiator,” he added.
Earlier, President Trump had announced that a trade agreement had been reached with Indonesia, confirming that tariffs on Indonesian goods would be cut to 19%.
