The European Union (EU) has indicated that it may explore a region-to-region trade agreement with ASEAN after 2027, while continuing to focus on bilateral agreements with individual ASEAN member states as foundational steps. The EU already has trade deals with Singapore, Vietnam, and a pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia, while negotiations are ongoing with Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. These agreements aim to strengthen economic ties and facilitate tariff-free trade across the region once ratified.

Bilateral trade between the EU and ASEAN reached USD 307.5 billion in 2024, with USD 94.3 billion in EU exports and USD 164.5 billion in imports. Indonesia’s own trade with the EU totaled USD 30.4 billion, with expectations that the CEPA could increase this figure 2.5 times within the next 4–5 years. The framework highlights ASEAN’s strategic diversification in global trade partnerships, especially as member states balance relationships with major external partners like the US and China.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/eu-signals-trade-pact-talks-with-asean-to-begin-after-2027#goog_rewarded