Jakarta, July 2 -- With the July 8, 2025, deadline for reciprocal tariff negotiations approaching, Trade Minister Budi Santoso has said he is optimistic of a positive outcome to the talks between Indonesia and the United States so far.

"We are still waiting for America's response; no deal has been achieved. We need to wait as other countries have also not achieved any deals," he informed here on Wednesday.

His optimism is based on the fact that trade between Indonesia and the United States has been mutually beneficial so far. "We need each other. The Americans need us, and likewise, we need them for their markets," the minister explained.

Santoso highlighted that the US is the top contributor to Indonesia's trade balance surplus, with ...