Airlangga to Meet Lutnick, Rubio, and Bessent in Washington Tariff Talks
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Indonesia sends a high-level delegation to the United States on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, for critical trade negotiations led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. The talks aim to resolve a proposed 32% reciprocal tariff, with Airlangga scheduled to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The tariff was initially announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, during Liberation Day celebrations, as part of a broader strategy to impose reciprocal trade measures. The U.S. later delayed its implementation by 90 days, opening a window for negotiation.
Speaking during the Russia–Indonesia Business Forum in Jakarta on Monday, Airlangga said, “We’ve already been in communication with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.” He declined to disclose the contents of Indonesia’s negotiation proposal, stressing confidentiality. “The proposal is confidential. There’s no pressure game here—the goal is simply to lower the tariffs,” he added.
The U.S. is one of Indonesia’s largest trading partners, and the proposed tariffs have raised alarms across the country’s export sectors.
Airlangga confirmed that the negotiations followed a formal request by Indonesia, submitted to three U.S. ministries: the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury. “On the President’s directive, we have written to all three,” he said.
He also emphasized that Indonesia was among the first nations invited to Washington for bilateral discussions. “Indonesia is one of the first countries to be invited to Washington for these talks,” Airlangga stated after a technical coordination meeting earlier that day.