A civil society coalition consisting of CELIOS, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Solidaritas Perempuan, and supported by WALHI Nasional and Trend Asia has officially filed a lawsuit for Unlawful Government Act (Onrechtmatige Overheidsdaad) against the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) on March 11, 2026.
The lawsuit challenges the President’s decision to sign the Indonesia–United States Reciprocal Trade Agreement (The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade / ART) on February 19, 2026, without approval from the House of Representatives (DPR) and without meaningful public participation.
The coalition argues that the President’s action contradicts Article 11 of the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 24 of 2000 on International Treaties, and violates the General Principles of Good Governance (AAUPB) as mandated in Indonesia’s administrative law framework.
In addition to filing the main lawsuit, the coalition has also submitted a provisional request to the Jakarta Administrative Court to suspend the implementation of the ART agreement during the trial process until a final and legally binding court decision is issued.
According to the coalition’s legal analysis forming the basis of the lawsuit, several provisions within the ART agreement potentially disadvantage Indonesia. These include large-scale obligations to import energy and food commodities from the United States, the removal of Local Content Requirements (TKDN) policies, restrictions on Indonesia’s ability to regulate foreign digital platforms, and clauses that could limit Indonesia’s ability to pursue trade cooperation with other countries.
The coalition also argues that the agreement does not reflect a fair principle of reciprocity, as Indonesia is required to comply with hundreds of provisions while the obligations imposed on the United States are significantly fewer.
Through this lawsuit, the coalition requests the panel of judges at the Jakarta Administrative Court to declare the President’s decision to approve the ART agreement as an unlawful act by a government official and to order the annulment of the decision.
