Canada and Indonesia Sign Historic Trade Agreement to Reduce Barriers

Canada and Indonesia have reached a landmark trade deal, the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in Ottawa by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. This marks Canada's first bilateral trade agreement with an ASEAN nation, signaling a strategic pivot amid global economic turbulence.

The agreement eliminates tariffs on over 95% of Canadian exports to Indonesia, unlocking opportunities for farmers, clean energy developers, and high-tech agriculture. Nuclear power collaboration is also on the table, with Canada's small modular reactor technology poised to play a role in Indonesia's energy transition.

Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu emphasized Indonesia's 280 million-strong consumer base as a prime target for Canadian goods, from processed foods to advanced agri-products. The deal reflects both nations' urgency to diversify trade relationships as U.S.-China tensions reshape global supply chains.