Third IA-CEPA Joint Committee Meeting
On 25 June 2025, Indonesian and Australian senior officials held the Third IA-CEPA Joint Committee Meeting (JCM). Joint Committee Co-Chairs noted since IA-CEPA’s entry into force five years ago (5 July 2020), two-way trade has almost tripled, from $12.91 billion to $35.38 billion in 2024.
Supporting Leaders’ commitments from the 2025 Annual Leaders Meeting in Jakarta on 15 May, where Leaders acknowledged it was timely to complete a General Review of IA-CEPA, the Joint Committee endorsed commencing preparations for a General Review of IA-CEPA. Co-Chairs tasked committees to meet within the next six months to consider inclusions for the General Review and report back to the next Joint Committee.
The Joint Committee received activity reports from the committees on: Trade in Goods; Trade in Services; Rules of Origin; Investment; and Economic Cooperation. The Joint Committee also supported establishing the sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and agreed that its first meeting should be held as soon as possible.
Co-chairs affirmed the value of the ECP Katalis, and the commitment to the second phase (2026-2030), currently being redesigned. Co-Chairs looked forward to the next phase and underscored the importance of a Katalis phase 2.0 program that is focused on supporting effective and efficient implementation and utilisation of the agreement, through activities that relate to improving market access and increasing trade and investment.
Australia advocated for Indonesia’s full implementation of its commitment on a tariff rate quota for Australia feed grains and timely issuance of import permits for agricultural products including box beef, cattle and a number of horticultural commodities. Australia sought an update on the timing of Indonesia’s introduction of the Halal Law for food and beverage products. Indonesia confirmed the new law would be implemented on 17 October 2026.
The Co-Chairs agreed to convene the Fourth JCM in the first quarter of 2026.
Government response to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties' report on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
On 19 February 2020, the Australian Government response to the report was published. The Government accepted the recommendation that binding treaty acting in the case of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties' report on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
On 9 October 2019, the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties' report on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and the associated Investment Agreement, was tabled in Parliament. The Committee recommended binding treaty acting in the case of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
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