Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan expressed hope that the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) negotiations would conclude promptly, aligning with both nations' leaders' commitment to finalize discussions by 2024. This was stated during his meeting with Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, in Arequipa, Peru, on May 17. Accompanying him was Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Director General of International Trade Negotiations. Zulkifli thanked the Canadian delegation for their support and reiterated the mutual goal of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024. Zulkifli proposed integrating labor, environmental, and inclusive trade issues under the chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development in the ICA-CEPA talks. He emphasized the importance of bridging mutual interests and facilitating negotiations. Additionally, strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Canada through critical mineral dialogue and green economy project financing was highlighted. Launched on 21 June 2021, the ICA-CEPA negotiations reached their seventh round, held in Semarang, Central Java, in March 2024. The eighth round is scheduled for June 24-28, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
The ministers also discussed the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) negotiations. Zulkifli appreciated Canada’s technical and financial assistance to ASEAN through the Expert Deployment Mechanism, hoping it would expedite ACAFTA's completion by 2025. He also congratulated Canada on its halal certification for beef by Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH). Zulkifli encouraged live cattle import cooperation with Canada and invited Canadian investments in sectors such as minerals, agriculture, and food processing. He anticipated that premium Canadian beef would soon be available to Indonesian consumers. In 2023, Canada ranked 28th as an export destination and 16th as an import source for Indonesia. From January to March 2024, bilateral trade totaled USD 878.9 million, with Indonesia’s exports to Canada at USD 366.1 million and imports from Canada at USD 512.8 million. In 2023, total trade reached USD 3.5 billion, with Indonesia exporting USD 1.3 billion and importing USD 2.1 billion. Major Indonesian exports to Canada include telephones, precious metal waste, natural rubber, motor parts, and luggage, while key imports include wheat, chemical fertilizers, soybeans, and chemical wood pulp.
