Indonesia seeks new trade deals to diversify markets

Indonesia is seeking to diversify its markets as global protectionism intensifies, while also taking steps to defend its local manufacturers, said Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri.

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"(US President Donald) Trump's statements on tariffs are quite shocking in a lot of ways, but we think Indonesia could maximise its market potential if the US imposes tariffs on Chinese goods," Ms Roro said in an interview in Jakarta on Feb 12.

"We are safeguarding our national trade, while expanding exports."

Mr Trump's plans for tariffs against countries ranging from Canada to China have stoked fears globally that all exporting nations may face more barriers to the world's biggest consumer market.

On Feb 12, the European Union trade chief spoke to US officials over trade disputes, and all of Canada's premiers were in Washington to lobby against import taxes.

The risk of global trade turmoil is making Indonesia take a measured stance, while it continues to seek more trade deals and tighten protection for local manufacturers from cheap imports being dumped in its market, said Ms Roro, who at 31 is the youngest official in President Prabowo Subianto's Cabinet.