KOMPAS.com - The President of the United States (US) Donald Trump recently announced a reduction in import tariffs imposed on Indonesia to 19 percent, from the previous 32 percent.

The reduction in American import tariffs to Indonesia was decided after long negotiations between the delegations of the two countries, including direct talks between Trump and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

In an official statement delivered via the official YouTube account managed by the White House, Trump called Prabowo a great, strong, popular and intelligent leader.

Trump did not elaborate on the contents of his phone call with Prabowo. However, he emphasized that Prabowo was willing to provide full access to Indonesia.

"We made a deal with Indonesia. I spoke with their president, who is terrific. Very popular, very strong, very intelligent. And we got full access to Indonesia, everything," Trump said, as quoted on Wednesday (July 16, 2025).

Although it appears one-sided, Trump claims his deal with Prabowo is beneficial for both parties.

It was stated that Indonesian imports entering the US would be subject to a 19 percent tariff. Conversely, US products exported to Indonesia would be exempt from the tariff, or zero percent.

"Indonesia will pay a 19 percent tariff, and we will pay nothing, I think that's a good deal for both sides," Trump said.

Trump-Prabowo's long negotiations

Trump's reduction in import tariffs to Indonesia from 32 percent to 19 percent came after a lengthy negotiation process since April 2025.

At that time, the Indonesian government sent three ministers to hold direct talks with the US government in Washington DC to reduce American import tariffs to Indonesia.

The Indonesian delegation consisted of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

They met with representatives from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), as well as other relevant ministries.

The Indonesian government is intensively lobbying diplomatically to reduce the US import tariffs to Indonesia, which were previously announced on July 7, 2025. At that time, the US again set import tariffs of 32 percent on Indonesian products, effective August 1, 2025.

Trump import tariffs and copper

Trump revealed that the discount on American import tariffs to Indonesia was partly due to the consideration of the broadest possible access provided by the Indonesian government to important resources.

Trump did not specify the resources. He only emphasized that Indonesia is a producer of high-quality copper with substantial reserves.