Coordinating Minister Airlangga Pushes for Accelerated Implementation of ICA-CEPA
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto held a bilateral meeting with Canada’s Minister for International Trade, The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, Canada. This meeting took place at a critical juncture as the trade relationship between the two nations transitions from the ratification stage to the implementation stage of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), amidst a dynamic global trade landscape.
During the meeting held on Monday (14/09/2026), Airlangga stated that bilateral trade between Indonesia and Canada has continued to grow steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 9.13% since 2021. Total trade between the two nations in the first half of 2025 reached US$ 3.1 billion, a 13% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
ICA-CEPA is Indonesia’s first comprehensive economic partnership agreement with a country in the North American region, which was signed by the Minister of Trade and witnessed by the Heads of State of both nations in September 2025.
“This agreement is expected to strengthen the economic ties between our two nations and open up wider access to markets, investment, and cooperation with strategic partners in the North American region,” Airlangga said in a written statement on Thursday (17/09/2026).
Airlangga also noted that both countries are optimistic about preparing for the implementation of the agreement, which is scheduled for the end of this year.
ICA-CEPA will eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 90% of Canadian tariff lines for Indonesian products, while Indonesia will do the same for nearly 86% of Canadian product tariff lines. Indonesian exports to Canada are projected to increase to US$ 11.8 billion by 2030 as the agreement reaches full implementation, with vast opportunities for cooperation in strategic sectors such as critical mineral downstreaming, clean energy, agri-food and sustainable fisheries, infrastructure, and digital financial services.
Beyond being a mere trade agreement, ICA-CEPA holds strategic value for Indonesia’s position in the region. As the largest economy in ASEAN, Indonesia plays a vital role in expanding Canada’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific, while simultaneously serving as a gateway for strengthening Canada’s trade networks with ASEAN more broadly.
“Therefore, the readiness for ICA-CEPA implementation is a shared priority so that its benefits can be immediately felt by businesses in both countries,” he stated.
During the meeting, both parties agreed to work together to resolve several implementation challenges for ICA-CEPA, including the adjustment of standardisation requirements, sustainability and labour practices, increasing the capacity of MSMEs to utilise new market opportunities, and strengthening Indonesia’s logistics infrastructure and trade facilitation to remain competitive. Both sides emphasised the importance of ensuring that the benefits of the agreement are distributed equitably.
Moving forward, Indonesia and Canada agreed to focus cooperation on the concrete implementation of ICA-CEPA, including accelerating dialogue on critical mineral cooperation and economic technical cooperation.
“Today’s meeting reaffirms the shared commitment of Indonesia and Canada to ensure that ICA-CEPA truly provides real benefits for businesses in both countries,” Airlangga concluded.