Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto (center) delivers a press statement in Jakarta on Friday (August 21, 2026). (ANTARA/Bayu Saputra) Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government has set a target to sign the landmark Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) by October 2026, marking a pivotal step toward finalizing a major trade pact nearly a decade in the making. Following the completion of the agreement’s documentation, the text will move to the European Parliament and Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI) for formal ratification. “From the progress of the IEU-CEPA, the English version of the documentation is being finalized and is targeted for October. Hopefully, it can be signed,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said during a press conference in Jakarta, Friday. Airlangga noted that the government plans to issue a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) to prioritize the IEU-CEPA deliberations in parliament. Trade Minister Budi Santoso has already conducted consultations with the DPR RI regarding the implementation framework. The government expects the agreement to formally enter into force by early 2027 following the issuance of derivative Government Regulations (PP). Airlangga characterized the long-awaited economic pact as a “game-changer” for Indonesia’s global trade positioning, noting that the agreement will grant immediate zero-tariff access to 90 percent of Indonesian goods entering the EU, with remaining tariffs phased out gradually. In total, the EU is expected to eliminate import duties on 98.5 percent of tariff lines while streamlining customs procedures for Indonesian exports. Negotiations for the IEU-CEPA were first launched in Brussels in September 2016. In addition to boosting trade, the agreement is expected to drive European investment into Indonesian strategic domestic sectors, including electric vehicles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Translator: Bayu Saputra, Yashinta DifaEditor: Azis KurmalaCopyright © ANTARA 2026