Affirms Not Reply To Trump Tariffs, Airlangga: Prioritize Negotiations

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for the Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto, emphasized that he would not take retaliation measures over the policy of resipprocal tariffs by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Airlangga said the government chose to negotiate.

Airlangga said Indonesia also communicated with neighboring leaders such as Malaysia to discuss the steps taken to respond to Trump's tariff.

"We will prioritize the negotiation route, not retaliation," said Airlangga, Monday, April 7.

To push for an agreement, he continued, Indonesia and America will make an agreement through the Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA).

"We will encourage the renewal of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) agreement which has been irrelevant since it was signed in 1996," Airlangga continued.

Airlangga also said that Indonesia would also push for several agreements with several ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Cambodia, and Malaysia to calibrate the joint stance of ASEAN countries in the agenda of the inter-ministerial meeting which will be held next week.

"The Trade Minister will meet on the 10th with the Minister of ASEAN and will prioritize negotiations so as not to take retaliation but Indonesia, Malaysia, and ASEAN countries prefer to negotiate," said Airlangga.