The Legal Center for Corporate, International Trade and Investment (LCITI) took part in the Senior Officials Dialogue on Strategic Trade Management (STM) for Indonesia, a high-level bilateral forum between Indonesia and the United States held on 20 May 2025 in Jakarta. The dialogue marked an initial milestone in bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s strategic trade management framework, particularly in response to the growing interlinkages between international trade, economic security, and Indonesia’s international obligations. The forum brought together senior officials from multiple ministries and international partners to discuss policy directions on Strategic Trade Management as part of broader efforts to build a secure, transparent, and accountable trading system. STM was discussed not merely as a technical control mechanism, but as a key element of modern trade governance that serves to protect national interests, prevent the misuse of strategic goods, and enhance Indonesia’s credibility as a reliable trading partner in the global market.

In the dialogue, Prof. Dr. Yetty Komalasari Dewi delivered a presentation entitled “Recommendations on the Implementation of Strategic Trade Management in Indonesia.” Her presentation emphasised the importance of designing STM policies that are well integrated with Indonesia’s legal system and national trade policy. The recommendations highlighted the need for regulatory clarity, effective inter-agency coordination, and a balanced approach between security objectives and trade facilitation. The discussions further underscored the increasing relevance of STM in a global trade landscape shaped by heightened sensitivities around security, technology, and non-proliferation. Effective implementation of STM was viewed as essential not only for strengthening Indonesia’s economic resilience, but also for ensuring compliance with international commitments, including those under the United Nations framework. The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of policy- and law-based approaches in addressing strategic trade challenges, while highlighting the role of legal expertise and research in supporting adaptive and forward-looking trade policy formulation.