Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and the European Union are on track to officially sign the long-awaited Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a major milestone following nearly a decade of trade negotiations.The announcement was made by Indonesian Ministry of Trade’s Director of Bilateral Negotiations Basaria Tiara Desika L. Gaol in Jakarta on Wednesday (August 5), as the bilateral pact is entering its final administrative stages.”We are targeting the signing of the agreement in the fourth quarter of 2026,” Tiara noted.The agreement reached a substantial conclusion in September 2025 during its 19th negotiation round in Bali, where Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto substantially agreed to the framework.With the subsequent legal scrubbing process officially complete, both parties are preparing for final signature and legislative approval.”The signing will be carried out by ministers from both parties, witnessed by the highest leaders from both the EU and Indonesia. After that, we will enter the ratification process,” Tiara added.The Indonesian government hopes the ratification process moves swiftly, allowing full implementation of IEU-CEPA by the first quarter of 2027 to deliver immediate economic benefits to the business sector.Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso confirmed that the deal is projected to officially enter into force on January 1, 2027.The implementation of the IEU-CEPA, he stressed, will open broader market access for Indonesian products and boost overall competitiveness against regional peers.Susiwijono urged domestic industries—particularly manufacturing—to capitalize on the momentum to spur national economic growth.First launched in Brussels in September 2016, negotiations for the IEU-CEPA have spanned nearly ten years.Under the agreement, the EU will eliminate import duties on 98.5 percent of tariff lines, simplify procedures for Indonesian exports, and create greater investment opportunities in strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, electronics and pharmaceuticals.