Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Indonesia has opted for negotiation rather than retaliation in response to the United States’ reciprocal tariff policy, effective 9 April  2025. 

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Sunday (6/4/2025) that the government is preparing a strategic action plan that balances national economic interests and long-term bilateral trade relations.

“We’re given a short deadline to respond. The action plan will consider US imports and investments,” he said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The government is also assessing the policy’s potential impact on labor-intensive export sectors like apparel and footwear, pledging targeted support to maintain competitiveness.

Several products are excluded from US tariffs, including humanitarian goods, steel, aluminum, vehicles, copper, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and specific minerals.

To ensure industry input, the government will meet business associations on 7 April 2025. Indonesia is also exploring expanded access to European markets to diversify exports and reduce reliance on the US and China.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)