The report of the eighth round of negotiations for an EU-Indonesia free trade agreement refers to "continued progress", but negotiations on the sustainable development chapter, among others, promise to be difficult.
In Jakarta, from 17 to 21 June, progress was made in most of the chapters under negotiation, with the consolidation of new texts and the closure of the texts on agreements and mergers.
Another positive point is that the text highlights "notable progress" in the field of public procurement; a "good engagement" was noted in the chapter on state-owned enterprises.
Both sides made significant progress on the chapter on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which is nearing completion at the technical level, the report notes.
A first in-depth discussion took place on the Annex on motor vehicles.
However, discussions on trade and sustainable development "continue to be very difficult" because of too many "conceptual differences".
As for trade in goods, the EU's proposals on export taxes, repaired and rebuilt products, import and export restrictions and import licences also remain problematic for the Indonesian side.
Both sides also had extensive discussions on some articles of the chapter on technical barriers to trade, but could only make limited progress, the report states.
In terms of conformity assessment, the use of a subcontractor in another country or the acceptance of the supplier's declaration of conformity remains difficult for Indonesia.
In the margins of the cycle, a special session was devoted to palm oil. Since then, however, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has confirmed that he intends to oppose the European policy to reduce the use of palm oil (see EUROPE 12300/13).
The 9th round will take place in Brussels in December 2019, a date that is relatively far removed from the agenda of previous negotiations.
To read the report: https://bit.ly/30FvPC9 (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)