MENAKAR ARAH DIPLOMASI DAGANG INDONESIA-AMERIKA SERIKAT: ANTARA KONSESI TARIF DAN TANTANGAN SEKTOR PERTANIAN

Abstract

Indonesia and the United States (US) have recently reached a bilateral trade arrangement that reduces import tariffs on selected Indonesian agricultural exports from 32% to 19%, following protracted negotiations amid a global resurgence of protectionism. While this reduction represents a meaningful step toward easing trade barriers, the agreement also entails significant strategic concessions on Indonesia’s part, including wider market access for subsidized US agricultural products, formal recognition of US food safety standards (USDA and FDA), and a five-year commitment to refrain from agricultural export subsidies. These provisions create substantial challenges for Indonesia’s agricultural sector, which remains labor-intensive, price-sensitive, and dependent on commodity exports. Key commodities such as palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and rubber—accounting for more than 85% of Indonesia’s agricultural exports to the US—remain disadvantaged under the residual 19% tariff. At the same time, increased competition from subsidized US soybeans and beef threatens to depress domestic prices and undermine farmer livelihoods. In this context, Indonesia must adopt a comprehensive strategy to safeguard competitiveness and ensure sectoral resilience. Priority measures include diversifying export markets toward BRICS and other emerging economies, strengthening multilateral engagement through the WTO to secure equitable trade rules, and advancing downstream processing to capture greater value, protect domestic markets, and mitigate risks of global price distortions.