This is CBSI in the world. I'm John Batchel, welcoming Charles Ortel of Sundays with Charles, his podcast. However, most importantly, he has eyes on the ground in a part of the world I've never been. My ambition to go there is augmented by Charles's

reports. He's in Malaysia at the moment. He's traveling widely in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and

Indonesia of the two of most interest right now because of the tariff disputes going on around

the world. I begin with

Indonesia where Charles has traveled, and he's going to make a distinction between these

sovereign states' floors. We're especially keen on the growth and of both states and what it

means for the factory floor of the 21st century,

given that the Chinese model is in the process of failing.

Charles, a very good evening to you.

I begin with the news from CNBC in these last hours.

The U.S. and Indonesia agreed to the framework of a trade agreement, according to the White House.

Chicago will drop almost all tariffs, right, CNBC, on U.S. goods, while imports to the U.S. from

Indonesia will be set at 19 percent.

The U.S. and Indonesia will continue to, quote, negotiate and finalize the agreement on reciprocal trade in the coming weeks,

according to the joint statement.

This looks like the White House is declaring good news.

You're in the part of the world that is either happy about this or feels that it escaped worse ahead.

How do you measure the zero-for-S. goods and 19% for Indonesia?

That sounds lopsided. Good evening to you, Charles. Good evening to you, John. Thanks for having me on. I think the Indonesian trade deal is remarkable, not simply for the 19% versus zero issue, but more because the non-trade barriers, the fact that in practice U.S. goods had to go through all sorts of

bureaucracies to try to get their goods actually landed in the market, which made it virtually

impossible to get, say,

agricultural products and other products to the consumer end.

...