US tech giants back Indonesia in tariff negotiations

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has secured support from several major US companies in the reciprocal tariff negotiation process.

During a visit to Washington, D.C., the Indonesian delegation, led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, engaged with various stakeholders, including leading US technology and manufacturing firms such as Google, Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon.

The ministry's spokesperson, Haryo Limanseto, stated that direct involvement of the private sector is one of the keys to formulating a comprehensive solution.

"In the United States, the Indonesian delegation met with various stakeholders, including those from the government, associations, and business actors. With the involvement of all parties, these negotiations can generate comprehensive results," Limanseto stated on Wednesday.

In addition to meeting with high-ranking US officials from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the US Secretary of Commerce, the US Secretary of Treasury, and the Director of the US National Economic Council, the Indonesian delegation also held intensive dialogues with influential industry players in the global supply chain.

These included the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the United States-ASEAN Business Council, and think tanks such as USINDO and the Asia Group.

In meetings with companies such as Boeing and Google, Indonesia explored opportunities for investment, technology transfer, and cooperation in the digital economy and high-tech manufacturing sectors, Limanseto explained.

"Indonesia was able to obtain this opportunity due to its position in the Indo-Pacific regional order, as well as its role in several multilateral forums such as ASEAN, G20, and APEC," he remarked.

He noted that this important contribution enables Indonesia to pursue new cooperation opportunities with the US in several sectors, such as investment and trade in leading commodities between the two countries.

As a result of this approach, the US government responded positively.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also lauded Indonesia's quick response in the negotiation and described Minister Hartarto's negotiation letter as a smart and good-faith diplomatic initiative.

The USTR has also been appointed as the head of the US negotiating team to draft a fairer bilateral trade agreement.

To strengthen the follow-up, the Indonesian government has signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the USTR and formed three task forces: the RI-US Negotiation Task Force, the Acceleration of Licensing and Investment Climate Task Force, and the Expansion of Employment Opportunities Task Force.

Further technical negotiations will focus on preparing the format and initial draft of the agreement, with a deadline of 60 days, faster than the 90-day tariff policy postponement limit.

The government expects collaboration with leading US companies to strengthen Indonesia's position as a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Minister Hartarto has also appealed that all economic actors must be prepared and find new market alternatives to create new opportunities because competitiveness is getting more intense," Limanseto emphasized.