Jakarta, Sept. 25 -- Indonesia and the European Union signed a landmark trade agreement on Sept. 23, aiming to eliminate tariffs on nearly all goods and deepen cooperation in services and investment, marking a new chapter in economic relations between the two regions.

The Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) covers over 98% of tariff lines-representing nearly 99% of the total import value-and is expected to raise Indonesia's national income by US$2.8 billion.

It also aims to create new jobs, reduce poverty, and strengthen the role of labor-intensive sectors including palm oil, coffee, textiles, apparel, footwear, and furniture.

"This agreement will directly impact five million workers in labo...