Indonesia, US set 60-day window to resolve tariff dispute

Indonesia and the United States have agreed to finalise negotiations within 60 days over Washington’s decision to impose a 32% tariff on Indonesian imports, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said on April 18.

Speaking at a press conference during a diplomatic visit to Washington, DC—monitored virtually from Jakarta—Airlangga Hartarto said both sides had identified key areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience, Caliber.Az reports per Indonesian media.

“We hope that within 60 days, these points will be translated into formal agreements between the two countries,” Hartarto said.

He noted that President Prabowo Subianto had dispatched a high-level delegation to seek a compromise on the tariff measures introduced earlier this month by US President Donald Trump.

Talks have been held with senior American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. A meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to take place next week.

"The government has been actively engaging with relevant US officials," Hartarto added.

The move follows a bilateral meeting on April 17 between Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Sugiono and Secretary of State Rubio in Washington, where both reaffirmed a commitment to deepening the countries’ strategic partnership, spanning politics, defence, trade and investment.

Sugiono outlined Jakarta’s ongoing efforts to attract greater American investment, particularly in critical sectors such as nickel processing and natural resource development.

She also underscored President Prabowo’s broader goals to strengthen energy and food security, advance resource downstreaming, and enhance the quality of Indonesia’s workforce.

On April 2, President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on several trading partners, including a 32% levy on Indonesian goods. Other Southeast Asian nations were also affected, with Vietnam facing a 46% tariff, Cambodia 49%, Thailand 36%, Malaysia 24%, the Philippines 17%, and Singapore 10%.

However, on 9 April, Trump authorised a 90-day postponement of the tariff implementation for most countries, excluding China, with Indonesia among those granted the temporary reprieve.

By Aghakazim Guliyev