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Bisnis.comJAKARTA – The Ministry of Commerce (Kemendag) accelerates the completion of comprehensive economic cooperation negotiations with Canada (Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement/ICA-CEPA).

Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Commerce, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said both sides were aiming ICA-CEPA could be ratified by the end of 2024.

He is optimistic that he can reach an agreement in accordance with the goal and be mutually beneficial even if there are problems that have not been resolved.

“We encourage those responsible for negotiation issues to intensify communication and be pragmatic so that all negotiation issues can be resolved,” Djatmiko said in an official statement quoted on Wednesday (26/6/2024).

Meanwhile, the ICA-CEPA negotiations entered their 8th round held in Ottawa, Canada on Monday, June 24, 2024. There were 20 negotiation questions and 1 expert discussion on the business issue public (BUMN) which were discussed during the 8th round.

Furthermore, Djatmiko said that for the first time, discussions on the formation of a dialogue on critical minerals took place during the 8th round of ICA CEPA negotiations. According to him, with the help of the Critical Minerals Dialogue, it has become a real form of strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Canada as influential critical mineral producing countries on the global stage.

“Indonesia proposes a dialogue regarding critical minerals under the framework of ICA-CEPA. This proposal is proposed to explore the advantages of the two countries in the processing of mineral resources and the development of new and renewable technologies,” said Djatmiko.

Director of Bilateral Negotiations at the Ministry of Commerce, Johni Martha, explained that both countries hope that a number of negotiation issues can be resolved during the 8th round of the IAC CEPA. A set of negotiation issues includes the chapters on transparency, anti-corruption and responsible business behavior; Chapter Temporary human movement; and the chapter on customs and trade facilitation.

“We also hope that other negotiating issues can meet the commitments contained in the ICA-CEPA Negotiations Acceleration Work Programme agreed by both countries,” Johni said.

According to data compiled by the Ministry of Commerce, Indonesia’s total trade with Canada between January and April 2024 reached 1.1 billion US dollars. During this period, Indonesia was still experiencing a deficit, with the value of exports to Canada recorded at US$466 million and the value of imports from Canada at US$655 million.

Meanwhile, a number of commodities exported to Canada in 2023 include telephone equipment, production products or waste, natural rubber, accessories and luggage. Meanwhile, the main products imported by Indonesia from Canada are wheat, fertilizers, soybeans and sawdust.

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