Indonesia
On 1 November, negotiations on a free trade agreement between EFTA and Indonesia were concluded in substance, with Switzerland acting as lead negotiator. The agreement means 98% of Swiss goods will be exempt from customs duties in medium term.
The five countries are expected to announce the completion of the negotiation in a ministerial meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Nov. 23.
Indonesia is currently proposing to have a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the GCC countries
Indonesian Civil Society, urge the Government not to ratify the recently signed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Singapore said it will threatens the state’s sovereignty. Besides signing the BIT, Indonesia-Singapore also signed MoU on Investment Cooperation for sectors such as Industry 4.0, tourism, financial technology, and education.
Indonesia could delay signing a planned free trade deal with Australia if Prime Minister Scott Morrison formally recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, political analysts suggest, as the move would provoke deep anger in the lead up to the Muslim nation’s presidential election.
The free trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia is in peril after Labor said it would not ratify the deal, or any other FTA in the pipeline, unless provisions allowing the importation of foreign workers and the ability of foreign governments to sue, were stripped out.
Singapore and Indonesia signed an agreement to promote and protect investments, with the treaty promising Singapore companies operating in Indonesia protection and access to international arbitration in the event of investment disputes.
The Swiss Senate has narrowly voted against proposals to exclude palm from any free trade agreement with Malaysia and Indonesia.
The chief negotiator of Indonesia sits on the board of directors of the Indonesian company Astra Agro Lestari, one of the country’s largest palm oil producers.
L’Indonésie n’exige plus l’abolition de droits de douane à l’importation de son huile de palme, produit contesté en Suisse, et accepte des règles strictes en matière de propriété intellectuelle.
Representatives from the Civil Society Coalition for Economic Justice held a meeting with an Indonesian Trade Official and discussed the development of information on the RCEP and Indonesia EU CEPA negotiating rounds.
The Indonesia-Australia agreement provides preferential access for a number of Australian agricultural products. It also provides a framework for addressing non-tariff measures.
Singapore and Indonesia have agreed to conclude talks on a bilateral investment treaty between their countries before their leaders hold a retreat next month.
The intersessional exchanges and the second half of the 15th round allowed delegations to conclude negotiations in most areas, subject to legal review of the texts, leaving only a few areas where some open issues and follow-up work remain.
Canberra was pushing for more beef imports into Indonesia. Jakarta’s trade priority is removal of barriers and tariffs.
An Indonesian foreign ministry briefing confirmed that the agreement Australian Prime Minister hopes to sign will only be a preliminary one.
The free trade agreement with Indonesia is set to give grain growers new avenues into their biggest wheat market and put cattle producers in northern Australia on their strongest footing since 2011.
New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit Indonesia with the goal of concluding the free trade deal between the two countries
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and visiting Prime Minister of South Korea Lee Nak-yeon met at the State Palace on Monday, calling for acceleration of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Indonesian civil society coalition has voiced concerns over the ongoing talks in the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), which entered its fifth round.
