REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli, said Indonesia is currently focusing on building trade partnerships with the European Union (EU) members through the Common Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

"We're focusing on forging trade agreements with the European Union countries within the framework of the Common Economic Partnership Agreement," the minister said here on Friday.

Rizal said Indonesia could speed up the process of reaching such agreements with the European countries and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

"Hopefully, this year, it should be possible to complete these agreements. One of the deputies of the coordinating ministry is a co-chairman in the ongoing negotiations with Europe," Rizal said.

He said European countries are very excited at the prospect of collaboration with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries.

He cited that as a result of cooperation between Europe and the Philippines, exemptions have been given for food export tariffs for exports from the the Philippines to European countries.

"Meanwhile, in case of Indonesia, seafood and pineapple exports are still subject 20 percent tariff. If there is a trade agreement, it will benefit both parties," he said.

Rizal added that as the world becomes more open, inevitably the competition will become tougher.

"Regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), we have to learn from our weaknesses as soon as possible," he said.

He noted that currently, in the United States, the presidential election season is on, and most likely the TPP discussion will not be completed during the administration of Barack Obama.

"If Donald Trump is elected as the President, TPP might even be eliminated," Rizal said.

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