Indonesia clinches US trade deal, says Trump was a ‘tough negotiator’

JAKARTA — Indonesia’s president said U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was a “tough negotiator” after the two countries reached a trade deal that led to a reduction of proposed tariff rates to 19 percent from 32 percent. The deal is among only a handful reached so far by the Trump administration ahead of an August 1 deadline for negotiations, but no details were immediately provided by Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and a member of the G20. Trump said Indonesia had committed to purchasing 50 Boeing jets, $15 billion in U.S. energy supplies, and $4.5 billion in U.S. agricultural products. “We’ve agreed from 32 percent, if I’m not mistaken, lowered to 19 percent … I was still negotiating, but, I must say, he’s a pretty tough negotiator,” Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto told journalists on Wednesday after a phone call with Trump. Prabowo, who was returning from overseas visits, including Brazil for the BRICS conference, said he had spoken to Trump. He added, while he understood the United States’ points of view in the talks: “We’ve given our offer, we cannot give more.” Tru

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