EU-Indonesia trade deal opens fresh produce exports

The EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will expand access to Indonesia for European farmers and food producers. The agreement removes high tariffs and procedures for EU agri-food exports, while excluding sensitive products from liberalisation.

EU agri-food exports to Indonesia were worth €1 billion (US$1.08 billion) in 2024. Under CEPA, Indonesia will remove duties on most agricultural imports from the EU. This applies to dairy products such as milk powders, cheeses, and infant formula; meats including poultry and beef; fruit and vegetables; and processed foods such as chocolates, confectionery, bakery goods, and canned products.

The agreement also protects 221 EU food and drink products from imitation in Indonesia, including Camembert de Normandie, Comté, Lübecker Marzipan, Feta, Aceto Balsamico di Modena, Pecorino Romano, Gouda Holland, Queijo S. Jorge, and Kraški pršut.

Export procedures will be simplified. Indonesia will apply the same requirements to all EU Member States, with import licensing decisions issued within 30 days, no volume controls, and clearer sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Commitments include risk-based approaches, transparency, international standards, and recognition of the EU as a single entity for export certifications. The agreement also introduces regionalisation, allowing exports from unaffected EU areas when animal diseases occur elsewhere.

Sensitive EU agricultural products such as rice, sugar, eggs, fresh bananas, ethanol, modified starches, and albumins are excluded from liberalisation. Limited quotas will apply to garlic, mushrooms, sweetcorn, manioc starch, and high sugar-content products.

The agreement is expected to have a limited impact on the EU market. Indonesia does not produce many agri-food goods demanded in Europe. Its main exports to the EU are palm oil, cocoa, and coffee, none of which are produced in Europe. In contrast, EU exports to Indonesia consist mainly of dairy and other animal products, making the two agricultural markets complementary.

The EU emphasises that its health and safety rules remain unchanged. Products imported from Indonesia under CEPA must comply with all EU standards protecting human, animal, and plant health.