JAKARTA: Indonesia’s textile products will not be exempt from United States tariffs despite earlier talks seeking exemptions for several key commodities, according to Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who also heads the team for negotiating a reciprocal tariff agreement with Washington. “Textiles are not [considered natural products]. So [the tariff exemptions apply to] tropical natural resources,” Airlangga said in Jakarta on Friday (Dec 26), as quoted by Kompas.com, noting that the products granted exemptions were largely natural resource commodities such as palm oil. Textiles and textile products, which account for a significant portion of Indonesia’s exports to the US, would therefore remain subject to a 19 per cent tariff once it comes into force. Washington imposed a 19 per cent tariff on most Indonesian goods under a preliminary “framework agreement” in July, down from 32 per cent previously threatened in April.

Source: The Star December 28, 2025 11:26 UTC