The European Union has indicated that a region‑to‑region trade agreement with ASEAN may be considered after 2027, once more bilateral “building‑block” agreements are completed. EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam emphasized that such a deal remains a long‑term objective, with the current priority being bilateral accords with individual ASEAN members. The EU already has trade agreements with Singapore and Vietnam, and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia, which is now undergoing legal procedures before entering into force. Negotiations are ongoing with Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, with an ambition—echoing earlier commitments by EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič—to finalize these by 2027. Seam also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on ASEAN countries since 2025 have indirectly strengthened the EU’s economic position in the region as ASEAN seeks to maintain balanced external partnerships. EU–ASEAN trade remains strong, totaling €258.8 billion in goods in 2024, with €94.3 billion in EU exports and €164.5 billion in imports, while services trade reached €132.1 billion in 2023. Indonesia, anticipating the implementation of its CEPA with the EU, recorded US$30.4 billion in bilateral trade in 2024. Indonesian policymakers expect significant gains from the agreement, with Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto projecting trade could increase up to 2.5 times within four to five years of CEPA’s enforcement. Business leaders share this optimism, with Apindo chairwoman Shinta Kamdani calling the pact a major opportunity for diversification as global supply chains adjust amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.Source: https://indonesiabusinesspost.com/5996/markets-and-finance/eu-signals-possible-asean-wide-trade-pact-review-after-2027 (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Indonesia Business Post, 27 January 2026