SEAToday.com, Jakarta - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday (4/8) criticized the escalating global trade tensions sparked by US President Donald Trump's tariff policies, warning of their negative consequences for the international community.

“Trade wars are very negative. There are no winners—everyone tends to lose,” Guterres told reporters, as quoted on Antara, when asked about the latest tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Last week, President Trump signed an executive order enforcing reciprocal tariffs on several U.S. trade partners, including a 34 percent tariff on Chinese goods, 24 percent on Japanese products, and 25 percent on South Korean imports.

Another executive order imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported cars, light trucks, and foreign-made auto parts, citing national security concerns as the justification for the move.

On the other hand, in response to the U.S. decision to impose a 32% import tariff on Indonesian products, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced four strategic measures aimed at easing the burden on Indonesian businesses through tax and customs deregulation.

“These reforms—especially in tax and customs procedures—are designed to reduce the burden on our business community,” she said, as quoted on Antara, during an economic forum with President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas