Prabowo Acknowledges Tough Talks with Trump, Reaches Tariff Agreement
President Prabowo Subianto recently disclosed that he engaged in direct discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump to address trade tariffs, characterizing the negotiations as challenging yet ultimately successful. “I spoke with President Donald Trump. Thank God, although the negotiations were tough, we reached an agreement,” Prabowo stated at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. Both parties showed an understanding of each other’s national interests during the talks, which led to a reduction in import tariffs on Indonesian goods by the United States from 32% to 19%. Prabowo highlighted the meticulous approach taken by the Indonesian government throughout the negotiation process to safeguard the welfare of the public and local workers. Expressing confidence in Indonesia’s economic strength amid global uncertainties, Prabowo hinted at an upcoming visit to the United States, possibly including a meeting with President Trump in September or October. In a lighter moment, he humorously expressed his nerves about the possibility of being invited to play golf with Trump during the visit.