Former President Donald Trump recently claimed to have reached a trade agreement with Indonesia, a move that has generated both interest and skepticism. He touted the deal on his social media platform, Truth Social. He described it as a “Terrific deal, for everyone.” This declaration represents another step in his long pursuit of successful trade agreements with other countries.
To curry favor, Trump’s foreign affairs have often been ambitious and marked by failure. He has long promised bang for the buck deals with U.S. trading partners. Unfortunately, most of these agreements have been elusive. Most recently, he announced four trade agreements in as many weeks, including a deal with Vietnam earlier this month. This specific deal was posted about on Truth Social, doubling down on his desire to unify and increase U.S. trade relations.
The President’s Indonesia agreement announcement harkens back to Trump’s unconventional and direct engagement with foreign leaders. He noted, “I dealt directly with their highly respected President,” highlighting a personal approach to international diplomacy. This strategy is 100% in line with his views that direct communication is the best way to reach successful negotiations.
For all the enthusiasm surrounding the recent announcement, it is not at all clear what specific terms or benefits the Indonesia deal promises. Today, as Trump seeks to wildly upend the established order of international trade, doubts about the practical feasibility and implementation of these agreements remain.
Vietnam and Indonesia are central to Trump’s trade strategy. He wants to strengthen overall U.S. economic interests overseas and sees doing so with these two countries as key. Yet, as the past has taught us, converting commitments into binding contracts can be rife with challenges. The former president’s experiences with trade negotiations past highlight the complicated nature of these discussions.