Indonesia to import more from the USA to a narrow trade surplus: minister

The tariffs of US President Donald Trump forced countries to look for ways to improve the trade balance from the US and negotiate the scope of obligations imposed on their import.

The Indonesian plan is now “narrowing” and even eliminating the trade surplus from the USA, the finance minister of the country Sri Mulayani Indrawati told CNBC at the Spring Meetings of the World MF Bank.

This is happening in the country hit 32% of the export fee to the USA by President Donald Trump on April 2. Since then, he has reduced the obligation to 10% as part of its 90-day pause on tariffs imposed on some countries and goods.

Indvati noted that a country rich in resources was seen as prevention of trade through “non -dismissal barriers”, such as administrative processes, customs processes regarding imported goods and tax procedures.

She said that Indonesia now wants to import more agricultural products, such as wheat, soy and corn.

“We import not only from the United States, but many others … We can always discuss how we can narrow down and put the United States in a better benefit of providing this type of agricultural products,” she noted.

Indonesia can potentially import oil and gas – especially gas gas from the USA – because its domestic production is insufficient for its energy needs, said the Minister of Finance.

Her comments are as The trade surplus of Indonesia from the USA was $ 4.3 billion between January until March 2025. – compared to $ 3.61 billion in the same previous period. Superpower was the greatest factor contributing to the overall commercial surplus of the Southeast Asia country in the amount of $ 10.92 billion in the first quarter.

However, Indvati noted that trade from the USA is less than 2% of the domestic product of the national country.

“So it's not so big”, considering that total exports are 20% of Indonesia's GDP, she added.

Despite this, Indvati said that the impact of Trump's tariffs may be potentially felt in a different way, because the countries want to diversify their exports from the USA

Indonesia bank he maintained the policy rates of the third in a row of the review on WednesdayIn order to maintain the stability of the Indonesian exchange rate of Rupiah in relation to uncertain macroeconomic perspectives.

The central bank maintained a 7 -day 7 -day reverse ratio -which is also known as BI -Store -Bunkang at 5.75%, as expected by all of the 26 economists surveyed by Reuters. He also maintained his two other policy rates stable.

This movement appears when the Indonesian Rupiah reached a record level of low level, while the Jakarta index fell earlier this month, when the capital sailed after the US imposed “mutual tariffs” on countries, including Indonesia.

The decision is used to protect Rupiah as a central bank He still assesses the future cutting roomGiven the inflation rate and the prospect of the country's growth, said Governor of Perry Warjiyo.

“Our short -term priority is the stability of the exchange rate. After maintaining stability, the place to reduce the rate will be more open, and the time has come to decide on the future interest rate policy,” he added.

Rupiah weakened 0.12% compared to the dollar to 16,800 on Thursday, the day after the BI decision.