Luhut Wants To Meet Trump's Subordinates Next September, Continue Negotiating Residual Tariffs

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan plans to meet with the Minister of Trade of the United States (US) Howard Lutnick. The meeting was in line with the Indonesian Government's efforts to carry out further negotiations with the United States (US) regarding the reciprocal import rate.

Luhut and Lutnick's meeting is planned for September. Luhut said he had reported the planned meeting to President Prabowo Subianto.

"I think I have asked the President's permission to meet with Secretary Lutnick. Because he is also a good friend and we (will meet) he may be in September (around) 8-9, I forgot the date," said Luhut when met at the DEN office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 13.

Along with Luhut's planned meeting with Lutnick, currently a number of data needed for negotiations are being prepared by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

In addition, Luhut claims that he has a very good relationship with a number of parties in the US. Therefore, he is optimistic that the Indonesia-US negotiation process regarding the tariff can run smoothly.

"I think everything (the negotiation process) is going well, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy is doing a good job. However, we from the Economic Council are helping and have contacts that I can say are very good with America," he said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has set an import tariff for products from Indonesia at 19 percent and is valid since August 7, 2025. However, Indonesia is still trying to get a zero percent tariff on the imports of several commodities.

According to Luhut, the negotiation process is currently negotiating the topic of sectoral tariffs in more detail. This includes items that are not produced by the US, such as palm oil.

"This is detailed, for example, goods that are not produced in America such as palm oil, what are the rates. We also discussed yesterday with Lutnick, I also talked to labor-intensive industries, such as garment, shoes, that's not too much of a hassle," explained the former Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

"But with (resipprocal rates) 19 percent, the difference is 1 percent with Vietnam. In Asean, right, our (deputy) is the lowest, later we can also negotiate tariffs (for a number of) sectors. Our position should be very good, we negotiate," he concluded.