Indonesia Eyes U.S. Market Share from China and Others, Offers Trade Concessions to Trump’s Tariffs

Indonesia offers trade concessions to United States, cuts tariffs on U.S. goods and signals big imports, aiming to sidestep Trump’s trade blow and seize market share from China, Vietnam, and others.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesia offers trade concessions to United States, cuts tariffs on U.S. goods and signals big imports, aiming to sidestep Trump’s trade blow and seize market share from China, Vietnam, and others.(Photo: Bay Ismoyo/AFP)

Indonesia is moving quickly to convince Washington it’s not the problem — announcing trade concessions, cutting import duties on American goods, and signaling it’s open to buying more.

All this was done to defuse tensions with U.S. tariffs about to hit while subtly recalibrating its position in a world where even China is no longer immune to U.S. trade pressure.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
5
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
6
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington

You Might Like

China Slams U.S., Urges to Abandon Tariffs on Solar Panel, Warns of Climate Risks

China on Thursday slammed the United States’ move to impose tariffs as high as 271% on solar panel imports from Southeast Asia, calling it a protectionist measure that jeopardizes global climate efforts. The tariffs, ...
Trump is imposing steep tariffs on major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, with a lower rate on Canadian energy imports, said the White House on February 1, 2025. Washington will impose a 25 percent levy on imports from Canada and Mexico, with a 10 percent rate on Canadian energy resources, until both work with the United States on drug trafficking and immigration. Goods from China, said the White House, would face 10 percent tariffs.

Trump’s Tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico Spark Swift Retaliation, Fueling Trade War Fears

Trump’s tariffs, U.S. trade war, China retaliation, Canada and Mexico tariffs dominate the headlines as United States President Donald Trump announces sweeping tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, setting the stage for ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Vietnam on Monday, April 14, 2025, for a two-day state visit that is expected to yield around 40 new cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies, and localities.

China Condemns U.S. Tariffs: Fentanyl Is America’s Problem

China on Sunday forcefully criticized the United States’ decision to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese exports, calling Fentanyl is America’s problem and warning of severe economic consequences. Beijing vowed to ...

The Birth of a China-Centric Trade World

The recent controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s on-again-off-again imposition of tariffs on trade partners (and China’s countermeasures) has focused on the United States’ centrality to the current global trade system. In response, countries are ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP