"The IEU-CEPA negotiations are being finalized. However, the cabinet in the IEU-CEPA has changed. Their negotiator for Indonesia is no longer in office," he remarked at the 2024 National Coordination Meeting for the Acceleration and Expansion of Regional Digitalization on Monday.
Hartarto remarked that during the nine-year process, the negotiation process has become heavier due to a reshuffle in the ranks of officials within the European Union Commission, which resulted in changes to the requirements for Indonesia.
He then drew attention to three main issues requested to be resolved at the earliest, with the first being that Indonesia should relax its import policy for products originating from Europe.
The second issue concerns the export restriction policy in the form of imposing export duties, while the third is related to digital taxation.
During the negotiation process, Hartarto spoke of receiving instructions to accelerate the accession process of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
He also received permission from President-elect Prabowo Subianto to accelerate the accession process immediately.
"This has reached New Zealand as the CPTPP host and other ASEAN countries, such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. We will open the British market, the Canadian market, the Mexican market, Chile, and Peru," he remarked.
The minister highlighted that the government is concurrently also focusing on completing the accession process with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan earlier stated that the progress in the completion of the IEU-CEPA negotiations had reached almost 90 percent.
He noted that negotiations on the trade agreement are expected to be completed this month.
He considered the European Union to be an important trading partner for Indonesia, with its large market. Hence, Indonesia and the European Union have committed to completing the negotiations shortly.
A trade agreement between Indonesia and the European Union will bring myriad benefits, not only in terms of tax/import duty-free but also help address other issues, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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