Jokowi's US trip yields no breakthrough on core issues

Significance

However, he was only able to meet US President Barack Obama and to oversee the signing of commercial deals worth 20 billion dollars before cutting his trip short to tackle the haze crisis created by man-made forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Impacts

• Indonesia is unlikely to join the TPP until at least 2019 due to domestic protectionist pressures.
• Jakarta's position on China will be erratic as security imperatives clash with economic interests.
• As China's ally Laos prepares to chair ASEAN in 2016, US unease over Indonesia's lack of regional leadership will rise.