Indonesia Rejects U.S. Bid to Ban Chinese Ships in Tariff Talks

Indonesia rejects a US bid to bar Chinese flagged or Chinese made ships as both sides race to finalize a 19% tariff deal.
Indonesia's special economic advisor to the president, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, in Jakarta on August 16, 2024. Indonesia rejects a US bid to bar Chinese flagged or Chinese made ships as both sides race to finalize a 19% tariff deal. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)

Indonesia Rejects U.S. Bid and pressing U.S. trade officials to allow the use of Chinese-flagged or China-built ships for its Washington-bound exports, warning that it “don’t want to give in to all their demands” as the two sides finalize a 19% tariff deal, senior officials said.

Presidential economic advisor Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, returning from talks in Washington, said on Monday, October 20, 2025, the U.S. had “forbidden” Indonesia from using Chinese vessels, a demand he immediately rejected.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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