REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Taufik Kurniawan has expressed optimism that the relations between Indonesia and the US will grow closer to benefit both nations. "President Donald Trump will carry forward the tradition of the former US governments," Kurniawan stated here on Friday.
The statement was made in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the US president at around noon (Eastern Time Zone) on Friday. Trump will deliver an address at the west front of the US Capitol before leading a parade to the White House.
The lawmaker pointed out that Trump's controversial ideas were part of his leadership characteristics in response to the current conditions. Nevertheless, he noted that the values and principles of democracy remained a rational basis in determining the policy. He pointed out that Indonesia will respect the US policy under the leadership of President Trump.
On the other hand, he believed that Trump would not harm stability in the US. Hence, Indonesia should not harbor concerns regarding the US foreign policy. "President Joko Widodo has often revealed that the foundation of Indonesia's economy is strong enough to face the current global situation," he affirmed.
Despite concerns over Trump's economic policies, he noted that the strong Indonesian economy could make the nation an alternative destination for other countries.
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The US is an important trade partner of Indonesia, with Indonesian exports to the US reaching US$16.24 billion last year. The exports mostly comprised non-oil/non-gas commodities valued at around $15.03 billion. The US remains the main market for Indonesia's non-oil/non-gas exports.
The Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier stated that Indonesia should not be apprehensive of the US foreign policy under the leadership of President Trump. "It is not easy to implement the idea of developing the US economy based on a very nationalist-centric view," he stated.
One of the plans is to impose a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports. Nearly 90 percent of the goods sold in the US are made in China. "If President Donald Trump implements this policy, the price of goods will increase," he noted.
Furthermore, the vice president doubted Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, as people in the US would face difficulties in finding workers in the livestock and agriculture sectors.
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