Ottawa : On June 20, 2021, Canada and Indonesia launched negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), following successful exploratory discussions and public consultations. The Government of Canada tabled its notice of intent to enter into CEPA negotiations with Indonesia in the House of Commons on June 21, 2021, and tabled its negotiating objectives on November 24, 2021. Following ten rounds of negotiations, Canada and Indonesia announced on November 15, 2024, the substantive conclusion of negotiations, with Trade Ministers signing a joint statement announcing their conclusion on December 2, 2024. On September 24, 2025, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Indonesia’s Minister of Trade signed the CEPA in Ottawa. The CEPA is a comprehensive trade agreement that addresses market access for goods, services and investment, and includes provisions on small and medium sized enterprises, labour, environment and women’s economic empowerment. It will create a platform for Canadian business to benefit from increased opportunities associated with Indonesia’s economic growth. The CEPA will increase access to Indonesia’s market for Canadian traders by reducing or eliminating tariffs and by disciplining non-tariff barriers through provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and good regulatory practices. It will also provide greater predictability and transparency for Canadian service providers and investors across a range of sectors.N.B. Stay tuned online at www.Desitimes.ca for updates
