Indonesia-Australia Free Trade Deal to Come into Force Following Years of Delays

May 08, 2020

A free trade agreement worth USD 18 billion in agriculture, education and health services between Australia and Indonesia is expected to be activated in the next two months, with the Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham claiming that 99% of Australian exports will reach Indonesia duty-free or under significantly improved conditions, once the deal is in effect.

Birmingham identified this as the most extensive bilateral trade deal that Indonesia had ever inked, which will give Australian exporters a competitive advantage, especially at a time when many are suffering as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The deal is expected to come into force on the 5th of July 2020, following years of delay.