Prabowo Acknowledges Tough Talks with Trump, Reaches Agreement

President Prabowo Subianto recently disclosed that he engaged in direct discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding trade tariffs, describing the negotiations as challenging but ultimately fruitful. “I spoke with President Donald Trump. Thank God, although the negotiations were tough, we reached an agreement,” Prabowo expressed during a briefing at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. Both sides exhibited a shared understanding of each other’s national interests throughout the talks. Following the negotiations, the United States agreed to reduce import tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32% to 19%. “The tariff was reduced from 32% to 19%. I persisted in negotiating—I told him, he’s quite a tough negotiator,” Prabowo highlighted. He stressed that the Indonesian government meticulously calculated the entire process, prioritizing the protection of public interests 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 remarked. Prabowo also conveyed his confidence in Indonesia’s economic resilience amidst global uncertainties. “I’m very optimistic. Our economy is strong, in good shape. So whatever happens, we’ll stay strong,” he stated. Additionally, Prabowo mentioned plans for a prospective visit to the United States, with a potential meeting with President Trump scheduled for later this year, possibly around September or October. In a lighthearted manner, the president humorously mentioned the possibility of engaging in a round of golf with Trump during the visit.

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