On 16 September 2025, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Santoso, met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Uruguay, Valeria Csukasi, in Jakarta. During the meeting, Budi Santoso stated that Indonesia supports various preparations to immediately commence negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and Mercosur countries (Indonesia-Mercosur CEPA). Indonesia also recognises the potential for the enhancement of trade between Indonesia and Uruguay. Indonesia emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral trade cooperation with Uruguay and Mercosur in a joint effort towards a mutually beneficial trade agreement. Meanwhile, Valeria Csukasi conveyed appreciation for Indonesia's support for the Indonesia-Mercosur CEPA. Csukasi also said that bilateral cooperation between Uruguay and Indonesia could be a way to increase trade if negotiations with Mercosur could not yet begin. During this meeting, Csukasi invited Trade Minister Budi Santoso to visit Uruguay, in an effort to encourage the acceleration of negotiations with Mercosur.
Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur) is a South American economic group made up of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Indonesia-Mercosur CEPA negotiations were initiated on 17 December 2021. In June 2022, the two parties met to discuss the framework and negotiation plans. However, given the differing foreign trade priorities within Mercosur, there remains a lack of clarity on the implementation of the first round of negotiations to date. From January to July 2025, Indonesia's total trade with Uruguay amounted to USD 65.2 million. During this period, Indonesia's exports to Uruguay amounted to USD 50.9 million and imports from Uruguay amounted to USD 14.3 million. Indonesia recorded a trade surplus with Uruguay of USD 36.6 million. Meanwhile, in 2024, Indonesia's total trade with Uruguay reached USD 65.9 million.
