Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 08:54 AM UTC

Indonesia pushes fast-track I-EU CEPA deal before EU GSP expires

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Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso is urging the European Union to accelerate the signing of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), seeking to secure market access before the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) expires in 2027.

Budi directly solicited support from France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier, during a recent bilateral engagement aimed at smoothing the trade pact's approval process through the Council of the European Union.

"Indonesia hopes for France's support within the Council of the European Union to ensure the process leading to the signing of the I-EU CEPA runs smoothly,” Minister Budi said in a statement on Saturday.

“In parallel, Indonesia continues to advance domestic processes with the aim of implementation by early 2027,” he added.

According to the minister, speeding up the implementation of the bilateral trade deal is vital to creating a seamless transition from the standard GSP facility, which will cease covering Indonesian goods in 2027.

"We hope to ensure a smooth transition to the CEPA. Indonesia also looks forward to meaningful market access for sustainable palm oil and its derivatives, footwear, textiles, and fishery products," Budi emphasized.

During the bilateral talks, Forissier highlighted strong enthusiasm among French commercial entities to utilize the preference mechanisms and expressed hopes for expanded reciprocal investment flows between both countries.

Forissier also raised feedback from French business groups concerning the upcoming enforcement of mandatory halal certification rules in Indonesia, noting that enterprise compliance requires an adequate adjustment window.

Addressing those concerns, Budi stated that Indonesian authorities are actively reviewing potential adjustments to the implementation schedule.

He clarified that halal certification serves strictly as a tool for consumer protection rather than an import barrier or regulatory trade impediment.

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