Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto held a\nbilateral meeting with Canada\u2019s Minister for International Trade, The\nHonourable Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the Canada Investment\nSummit in Toronto, Canada. This meeting took place at a critical\njuncture as the trade relationship between the two nations transitions\nfrom the ratification stage to the implementation stage of the\nIndonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement\n(ICA-CEPA), amidst a dynamic global trade landscape.<\/p>\n
During the meeting held on Monday (14\/09\/2026), Airlangga stated that\nbilateral trade between Indonesia and Canada has continued to grow\nsteadily, with an average annual growth rate of 9.13% since 2021. Total\ntrade between the two nations in the first half of 2025 reached US$ 3.1\nbillion, a 13% increase compared to the same period the previous\nyear.<\/p>\n
ICA-CEPA is Indonesia\u2019s first comprehensive economic partnership\nagreement with a country in the North American region, which was signed\nby the Minister of Trade and witnessed by the Heads of State of both\nnations in September 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis agreement is expected to strengthen the economic ties between\nour two nations and open up wider access to markets, investment, and\ncooperation with strategic partners in the North American region,\u201d\nAirlangga said in a written statement on Thursday (17\/09\/2026).<\/p>\n
Airlangga also noted that both countries are optimistic about\npreparing for the implementation of the agreement, which is scheduled\nfor the end of this year.<\/p>\n
ICA-CEPA will eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 90% of\nCanadian tariff lines for Indonesian products, while Indonesia will do\nthe same for nearly 86% of Canadian product tariff lines. Indonesian\nexports to Canada are projected to increase to US$ 11.8 billion by 2030\nas the agreement reaches full implementation, with vast opportunities\nfor cooperation in strategic sectors such as critical mineral\ndownstreaming, clean energy, agri-food and sustainable fisheries,\ninfrastructure, and digital financial services.<\/p>\n
Beyond being a mere trade agreement, ICA-CEPA holds strategic value\nfor Indonesia\u2019s position in the region. As the largest economy in ASEAN,\nIndonesia plays a vital role in expanding Canada\u2019s engagement in the\nIndo-Pacific, while simultaneously serving as a gateway for\nstrengthening Canada\u2019s trade networks with ASEAN more broadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, the readiness for ICA-CEPA implementation is a shared\npriority so that its benefits can be immediately felt by businesses in\nboth countries,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, both parties agreed to work together to resolve\nseveral implementation challenges for ICA-CEPA, including the adjustment\nof standardisation requirements, sustainability and labour practices,\nincreasing the capacity of MSMEs to utilise new market opportunities,\nand strengthening Indonesia\u2019s logistics infrastructure and trade\nfacilitation to remain competitive. Both sides emphasised the importance\nof ensuring that the benefits of the agreement are distributed\nequitably.<\/p>\n
Moving forward, Indonesia and Canada agreed to focus cooperation on\nthe concrete implementation of ICA-CEPA, including accelerating dialogue\non critical mineral cooperation and economic technical cooperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s meeting reaffirms the shared commitment of Indonesia and\nCanada to ensure that ICA-CEPA truly provides real benefits for\nbusinesses in both countries,\u201d Airlangga concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coordinating-minister-airlangga-pushes-for-accelerated-implementation-of-ica-cepa-1789621196", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }