Indonesia: Free Trade Agreement Concluded
The U.S. and Indonesia "have agreed on the substance stipulated in the reciprocal trade negotiation document," Indonesia said in a Dec. 23 news release, according to an unofficial translation. It said technical meetings for legal scrubbing would be held in the second week of January, and the agreement should be signed by the third week of January.
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Indonesia said the U.S. will remove tariffs on "Indonesia's leading export products that the US cannot produce, such as palm oil, cocoa, coffee, tea, and others."
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said he and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had "lengthy discussions" Dec. 22.
He quoted Greer as saying, "The outcome of this meeting is the most beautiful Christmas gift, one that will bring benefits to both countries."
Airlangga said he hopes Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and President Donald Trump will sign the trade agreement at the White House before the end of January.
The USTR didn't comment by deadline.