President Prabowo Subianto recently disclosed that he engaged in direct discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding trade tariffs. The negotiations were described as challenging, but ultimately fruitful. “I spoke with President Donald Trump. Thank God, although the negotiations were tough, we reached an agreement,” Prabowo shared on Wednesday at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. Both parties demonstrated an understanding of each other’s national interests during the talks. As a result, the United States agreed to reduce import tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32% to 19%. Prabowo commented, “The tariff was lowered from 32% to 19%. I kept negotiating—I told him, he’s quite a tough negotiator.” He emphasized that the Indonesian government meticulously calculated the entire process to protect the interests of the public and domestic workers. “We crunched the numbers and negotiated every step of the way. For me, what matters most is my people. I must protect our workers,” he added. Prabowo expressed confidence in Indonesia’s economic resilience amid global uncertainties. He also mentioned plans for a potential visit to the United States, with a meeting with President Trump anticipated later this year. Despite the serious discussions, Prabowo humorously mentioned feeling nervous about a potential golf invitation from Trump.
Prabowo Acknowledges Tough Talks with Trump on Tariffs
