PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – A representative from Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs participated in the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Special Meeting, held virtually on Thursday, April 10, 2025. This special session gathered ASEAN trade ministers to discuss the latest developments in regional trade.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, accompanied by officials from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joining from the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta.
The meeting focused on the reciprocal tariff measures announced by the United States on April 2, 2025, examining their potential impact on ASEAN member states and formulating a coordinated regional response.
ASEAN ministers agreed to maintain open dialogue with the United States to preserve constructive relations and committed not to pursue retaliatory measures. Instead, they reaffirmed ASEAN’s dedication to strengthening regional economic integration.
ASEAN emphasized its commitment to fostering a stable, transparent, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and open economic environment to support trade growth and sustainable development across the region.
Several strategic initiatives were put forward during the meeting, including:
- Utilizing the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership as platforms to explore shared interests.
- Strengthening intra-ASEAN trade through agreements such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
- Exploring new trade partnerships while continuing to build on existing ones.
- Maximizing the potential of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to attract new members and reduce ASEAN’s reliance on specific markets.
- Encouraging active U.S. engagement in regional trade initiatives.
Additionally, a Joint Statement, based on previous discussions between Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Malaysian Prime Minister in Kuala Lumpur, called on Malaysia—as ASEAN Chair in 2025—to take a proactive role in fostering ASEAN-U.S. dialogue.
As a follow-up, ASEAN plans to establish a Geoeconomics Task Force and organize an ASEAN Virtual Summit in the near future to enhance coordination following the outcomes of this special meeting. (P3)
Source: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
