IEU-CEPA Negotiations Are Tough, Trade Minister Zulhas Wants To Run Faster

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: ANTARA)

NORTH CIKARANG - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan wants negotiations on the RI-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) to be completed more quickly.

He said Indonesia had met many requests, but there was no certainty.

As is known, the IEU-CEPA negotiations have entered the 19th round since July 18, 2026.

This means that these negotiations have been going on for 9 years. Most recently, there was a meeting to accelerate the negotiations, although there were still obstacles to the issue of deforestation.

"It has been reported, we will tell you, please, we have fulfilled a lot of requests if we add more, add more (European requests) of course it's a hassle," he said, in North Cikarang, Bekasi, Thursday, September 26.

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas hopes that the negotiations can be completed sooner. This means that both parties can agree on the agreement documents that have been discussed for a long time.

"We want the IEU-CEPA to be finished, but it depends on the area, right. Yes, but if we want it, we don't want it, we can't," he said.

According to Zulhas, negotiations are likely to be even more tough in the future government. Given that Indonesia's palm oil production will be brought to an increase in biodiesel or B50 in the era of President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

"We will tell you, because if the new government will be even more difficult, I think. Pak Prabowo knows himself, Pak Prabowo wants CPO to be B50, right, so we fulfill this CPO issue, it's no longer important," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said that the European Union's Anti-Deforestation Law (EUDR) was one of the discussions in the IEU-CEPA negotiations.

Djatmiko said the EUDR discussion was tough because the European Union had a strong commitment to sustainability issues. Therefore, Indonesia and the European Union are currently trying to find a middle ground regarding this anti-forestation issue agreement.

"Frankly, we have not yet received a concrete commitment from the European Union to this (anti-forestation issue)," said Djatmiko.

He said that Indonesia is currently continuing to strive so that agricultural products affected by anti-deforestation policies can still be accepted by the European Union market. Such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and wood.

"But again, this is still not the case. I don't know and can't predict what it will be like, because it's still in the latest talks," he said.