Indonesia Seeks 0% Tariff Deal with US for Coffee, Cocoa, Palm Oil, and Canned Pineapple
Key Takeaways
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia is pressing for the removal of a 19 percent reciprocal tariff on its flagship exports to the United States, aiming to secure zero-duty access for commodities ranging from coffee and cocoa to palm oil, rubber, textiles, critical minerals, and canned pineapple.
The government has sent an official letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Department of Commerce listing hundreds of products proposed for exemption. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has also held online meetings with US officials to follow up on the request.
“Virtual discussions continue, but once we get into substantive matters, we will need to adjust schedules for in-person talks,” said Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso in Jakarta on Thursday, Aug 28, 2025.
Negotiations Scheduled for September
Indonesia expects the first round of physical negotiations to take place in early September. Susiwijono said the government’s main objective is to ensure agricultural commodities such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil are exempted from the current 19 percent tariff and moved to a zero-tariff scheme.
Critical minerals are also on the agenda, but Susiwijono noted that technical discussions will involve separate teams due to the complexity of the sector.
Labor-intensive industries such as textiles and textile products are another priority. Indonesia has secured orders from major US retailers, including California-based GAP, and zero tariffs would enhance competitiveness.
“In essence, we want all the products listed in our letter to be exempted. We are pushing for zero percent,” Susiwijono said.
Canned Pineapple Highlighted as Flagship Export
Among the products targeted is canned pineapple, produced by PT Great Giant Pineapple in Lampung. The company has already built an export value of hundreds of millions of US dollars in the US market, making it one of Indonesia’s most significant agricultural export stories.
“This is a very large product segment. It is unique to Indonesia, demanded by the American market, and we want to push it all to zero percent,” Susiwijono said.
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