EU and Indonesia Trade Deal Concluded After Nearly a Decade

European Union (EU) and Indonesia trade deal negotiations have been concluded after almost 10 years, with a formal announcement due on 23 September during a visit by EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic. The pact, still requiring approval from EU member states, the European Parliament and Indonesia’s legislature, is part of Brussels’ plan to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on the US. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy with 300m consumers, is viewed as a strategic partner despite disputes over the EU’s deforestation law affecting palm oil and coffee exports. The deal follows a political agreement reached in July and comes as Brussels accelerates global trade talks, including with Mercosur, India and Southeast Asian partners such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.