He informed that currently, several technical issues are being negotiated.
"The plan (for the next negotiation) is next week. So hopefully, in the first semester (of this year), it will be completed," Santoso said here on Wednesday.
He added that the IEU-CEPA is important to increase Indonesia's trade to the European market, including in textile, ready-to-wear clothing, and footwear products.
Through the IEU-CEPA, he continued, Indonesia is expected to have a wider market.
"Now that the competition is getting tighter, maybe entering other countries is also difficult. There is a lot of competition, but we have the opportunity to enter the European market," he said.
In February 2025, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, held an online meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to align perceptions to accelerate the completion of the IEU-CEPA negotiations.
Related news: Hartarto stresses urgent need to wrap up CEPA talks with EU
During the meeting, Commissioner Sefcovic emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in discussing a realistic timeframe for completing the negotiations that is acceptable to both parties.
"Global trade conditions marked by tariff wars require an appropriate mitigation strategy to ensure the smooth flow of trade and investment between Indonesia and the EU," he added.
The IEU-CEPA is a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement between Indonesia and its partner countries in the EU.
Nineteen rounds of the IEU-CEPA negotiations have been carried out over the last nine years.
In general, the agreement has three main pillars: market access for trade in goods and services, investment and public procurement, and the harmonization of trade regulations, as well as cooperation and capacity building.
Related news: IEU CEPA completion to unleash collaboration opportunities: Roeslani
Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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