Indonesia targets October ratification for I-EU CEPA trade deal

Indonesia is working toward the ratification of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), with officials aiming for progress by October. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the English legal drafting is in its final stages, which could allow for ratification submission to the EU this October.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso noted that while Indonesia has completed its responsibilities, hurdles remain on the European Union side, specifically regarding the official languages of the agreement. Discussions are ongoing to determine if Indonesian and English will suffice or if translations into all EU languages are required.

The government aims to sign the agreement by the end of October 2026, with a target implementation date of January 2027. This timeline is intended to mitigate the impact of the expiration of the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) at the end of 2026. Once implemented, the deal is expected to provide Indonesian exporters with zero-percent tariffs on various products.