SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Indonesia has called on ASEAN countries to engage in joint negotiations in response to the US reciprocal tariff policy, discussed during the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Special Meeting held on April 10, 2025. 

The Indonesian delegation was led by Trade Minister Budi Santoso, accompanied by officials from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This special meeting aimed to discuss the reciprocal tariff issue announced by the United States on April 2, 2025, especially its impact on ASEAN member states, as well as ASEAN’s collective strategy and response,” said Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, as quoted on Antara, in Jakarta on Friday.

He noted that the meeting principally agreed ASEAN should engage in dialogue with the US to maintain good relations. “ASEAN also agreed not to retaliate against the US,” he added as quoted on Antara.

ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to deepening regional economic integration, seizing opportunities amid global challenges, and maintaining a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory, fair, inclusive, and open regional economic environment that has supported trade growth and regional development.

The meeting emphasized five key strategies:

1. Utilizing the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and the ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership as platforms for exploring mutual interests.
2. Upholding ASEAN agreements and boosting intra-ASEAN trade through the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
3. Exploring new trade partners while continuing engagement with existing ones.
4. Expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to reduce dependence on limited markets.
5. Continuing US engagement with ASEAN.

“These points were the result of the Coordinating Minister’s discussion with the Prime Minister of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on April 3,” Susiwijono said as quoted on Antara. 

He also mentioned that ASEAN discussed forming a Geoeconomics Task Force and will hold a Virtual ASEAN Summit to follow up on the AEM meeting.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas