General Statement on Advancing Negotiations toward a Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

1. On September 5, 2023, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, met and discussed progress toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Canada and Indonesia. Negotiations toward a CEPA were launched in June 2021 in recognition of the strong and growing economic ties between both countries.

2. Leaders underscored that a comprehensive and high-quality trade agreement between Canada and Indonesia will serve to increase bilateral trade and investment, reinforce both countries’ commitment to open, rules-based trade, and support long-term, inclusive economic growth and job creation. They acknowledged the important role a CEPA can play in advancing shared objectives and in fostering sustainable growth and development.

3. Leaders were pleased to take note of the significant progress toward a CEPA achieved through the first five rounds of negotiations. In order for a CEPA to conclude as early as possible for Canadians and Indonesians to benefit from the agreement, Leaders have committed to expedite the negotiations. To this end, Leaders have instructed officials to hold a negotiating round approximately every two months, if possible, and to sustain intensive engagement to maintain momentum, with a goal of substantively concluding the CEPA by the end of 2024.