Indonesia’s Economic Diplomacy toward the United States to Increase Tuna Exports

Abstract

Tuna is fisheries commodity ranked 2^nd as a contributor to Indonesia’s gross domestic product after shrimp. Indonesian tuna has competitiveness in international trade, also the trade between countries in the export and import of tuna. Many countries have tied their choices to Indonesian tunas, such as the United States. Throughout 2016, there were cases of rejection of Indonesian tuna in the United States because they were considered filthy and untraceable. The United States is increasingly tightening the food that enters the country. It is a non-tariff barrier for Indonesian tuna exports and affects the image of tuna from Indonesia. Based on these conditions, this article is trying to assess the Indonesia’s economic diplomacy toward the United States in the period of 2016-2020. This article employs descriptive qualitative, which is sourced by interview and research results. This article also shows Indonesia's economic diplomacy efforts to maintain its tuna exports to the United States, such as standard adjustment for fishery products from Indonesia to the United States, bilateral meetings between the countries, trade promotions, and international conferences.