Trump Cuts Import Tariffs From RI 19 Percent, Prabowo Says He's Not Satisfied

JAKARTA - The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, expressed his intention to renegotiate the import rates imposed by the United States on products from Indonesia.

For information, US President Donald Trump has announced that Indonesian goods entering the US will still be subject to a reciprocal rate from the previous 32 percent to 19 percent.

Although he welcomed the reduction in tariffs, Prabowo emphasized that he was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations and considered that the ideal tariff should have been reduced to zero percent.

"If you are satisfied, 0 percent", Prabowo told the media crew, Wednesday, July 16.

Prabowo explained that the negotiation process with the United States was tough, given that President Trump's character, known as a tough negotiator.

"I'm still negotiating, but I said he (Trump) is a tough negotiator," he said.

Prabowo said there are plans to hold a follow-up meeting with Trump which is likely to take place in September or October 2025.

Furthermore, regarding the purchase of Boeing planes from the United States, Prabowo also said that this was done to support the development of the national airline Garuda Indonesia.

"Yes, indeed, we need to raise Garuda, Garuda is our pride, Garuda is a national flight carrier, Garuda was born in our independence war. So Garuda must be a symbol of Indonesia, we are determined, I am determined to raise Garuda and for that, we need new planes. I don't think there is a problem because we need it, they want to sell, the Boeing plane is also quite good, we also stay from Airbus," he said.

Prabowo emphasized that trade cooperation between Indonesia and the United States is based on common interests.

"We also need for example, we are still importing fuel, we are still importing gas, we still need to import wheat, we still need to import soybeans and so on. So finally we can get a meeting point," he said.

Prabowo also ensured regarding the possibility of a trade deficit that all decisions had gone through careful calculations and thorough considerations of national interests.

"Everything we have calculated, we all negotiate, we also think, what matters to me is my people. The important thing is that I have to protect our workers, even though we also have an attitude, this is our offer, we are unable to give more. But what is important for me, our workers are safe, and I am very optimistic that our economy is in a strong condition, the condition is good. So whatever happens, we will be strong, "he concluded.