Indonesia targets two years to conclude China CEPA talks
The proposed bilateral pact would build on the ASEAN-China trade framework, with discussions focused mainly on non-tariff measures.
Indonesia aims to finish discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with China within two years, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in Jakarta on 11 November 2026.
Airlangga said the planned negotiations would build on the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 2.0 framework. Indonesia intends to adapt that regional cooperation framework into a bilateral economic partnership with China.
According to the minister, around 80 per cent of tariff-related discussions under ASEAN-China trade cooperation have already been completed. The bilateral CEPA talks would therefore concentrate more on non-tariff measures. He said these elements accounted for about 20 per cent of the CEPA, whose scope extends beyond tariff reductions or elimination.
Airlangga also dismissed concerns that pursuing a bilateral agreement could be viewed as Indonesia moving ahead of other ASEAN members in trade cooperation with China. He described competition among countries to reach trade agreements as normal.
