Indonesia and Tunisia are preparing to conclude a preferential trade agreement next January, according to the Indonesian media Jakarta Globe. This draft agreement, which aims to reduce customs duties on a series of products, is “practically finalized” according to several officials cited in the Indonesian press, including the official Antara agency and Radio Republik Indonesia. His signature, however, remains conditional on the political calendar of the two countries.
A text negotiated since 2018
The agreement, called PTA (Preferential Trade Agreement), was launched almost six years ago with the aim of streamlining trade between Tunis and Jakarta. This is a mechanism which only provides for tariff reductions on specific product lines, without going as far as a complete free trade agreement.
According to Jakarta Globe, the technical delegations have now finalized the negotiation. Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the document was “ready” and all that remained was to decide on the date for signing.
Products concerned: palm oil, fruit, fish, dates, etc.
Still according to data communicated by the Indonesian authorities, Tunisia will grant preferential treatment to several products exported by Jakarta, including:
- palm oil,
- bananas,
- frozen fish,
- cocoa,
- as well as certain textile yarns.
In return, Indonesia will reduce or eliminate tariffs on a series of Tunisian products, including:
- dates,
- crustaceans,
- and other agro-food products.
Exchanges that are accelerating after a phase of stagnation
According to Jakarta Globe, bilateral trade between the two countries rebounded strongly in 2025:
- over the period January–September 2024, trade would have amounted to $119.9 million,
- over the first nine months of 2025, they would have reached $308.6 million, or more than double, driven by the increase in Indonesian imports of Tunisian products (around $239.6 million over this period), particularly in the category of animal or vegetable fats, where palm oil-based products are classified (around $54.8 million).
This rebound comes after a much more moderate phase: according to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Commerce, the value of trade between Indonesia and Tunisia amounted to 217.6 million dollars in 2023, compared to 215.3 million in 2022, an increase of only 1.09%.
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