Quoting from a report by Kontan, the Indonesian government is currently preparing a number of strategies in response to the latest import tariff policy announced by United States President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025. Meanwhile, as reported by Kumparan, the policy sets a base tariff of 10 percent on nearly all imported goods, with special tariffs of up to 32 percent imposed on several countries, including Indonesia.

Diplomatic and Negotiation Approach

Rather than taking retaliatory action, the Indonesian government has chosen a diplomatic path to address the tariff policy. According to a report from Antara News, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, stated that Indonesia would propose the revitalization of the Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which has been in place since 1996, to make it more relevant to current global dynamics. President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Indonesia seeks a fair and equal partnership with the United States and will send a special delegation to conduct negotiations focused on the interests of the Indonesian people.

Domestic Economic Strategy

In addition to prioritizing diplomacy, the government is also preparing strategic measures to strengthen domestic economic resilience. As reported by Kumparan, these include:

1. Expanding Trade Partnership Networks:
   Indonesia has submitted a request to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), a group of countries that accounts for around 40 percent of global trade.This move is expected to open up new cooperation opportunities and enhance Indonesia's position in the international trade landscape.
    
2. Accelerating Downstreaming of Natural Resources:
   The government continues to promote the downstream processing of natural resources in order to increase the added value of national exports, thereby enabling Indonesian products to become more competitive in global markets.
    
3. Improving Industrial Competitiveness:
   Through participation in multilateral trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the government aims to strengthen the competitiveness of national industries amidst global trade dynamics.

Response to the Financial Market

On the other hand, Bank Indonesia (BI) has also taken anticipatory measures.
According to a report by Reuters, BI plans to carry out aggressive interventions in the domestic foreign exchange market once it reopens on April 8, 2025.
This step is intended to stabilize the rupiah exchange rate, which has come under pressure due to the new U.S. tariff policy.

Private Sector Involvement

The government will also engage industry players to gather strategic input regarding export sectors that need protection, particularly labor-intensive industries.
This step underscores the government's commitment to formulating inclusive economic policies that are responsive to global trade challenges.

With a combination of active diplomacy, the strengthening of domestic economic structures, and synergy with the private sector, Indonesia remains optimistic that it can anticipate the impact of the U.S. tariff policy and maintain national economic stability in a sustainable manner.