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Indonesia confident zero US tariffs will hold: expert

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Government Communications Agency (Bakom) expressed confidence that Indonesia will maintain zero percent tariffs on several key products in the United States market amid shifting US trade policies.”The government remains confident in maintaining the zero percent tariff,” Fithra Faisal Hastiadi, a senior expert at Bakom, said on Wednesday.He explained that the zero percent tariff provision is stipulated under an executive order, which differs from the previous reciprocal tariff scheme, giving the government grounds for optimism.US tariff policy recently shifted after the Supreme Court overturned the legal basis used by President Donald Trump to impose certain trade tariffs, prompting policy adjustments affecting several trading partners, including Indonesia.However, Fithra said Indonesia's position remains relatively secure due to prior negotiations and intensive communication with the US government.Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia had requested that the zero percent reciprocal tariff rate remain unchanged despite the US government's decision to impose new tariffs on all countries.He said Indonesia had coordinated with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and that a cabinet decision would be issued for countries that had signed the agreement.”Indonesia has signed the agreement, and we requested that products already granted zero percent tariffs remain unchanged, while other products be set at 10 percent,” he said in Washington, D.C., on February 21.Airlangga added that certain agricultural commodities, including coffee and cocoa, retain zero percent tariff facilities under a separate executive order and are not affected by the ruling.In addition to agriculture, Indonesia has also requested the continuation of zero percent tariffs for products in the electronics supply chain, crude palm oil, textiles, and footwear. Confirmation is expected within 60 days of the agreement's signing.