Jakarta, Sept. 29 -- The forthcoming implementation of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) is expected to eliminate a 10 percent tariff gap on Indonesian labor-intensive exports to Europe, putting the country on equal footing with regional competitor Vietnam.

"Currently, when our labor-intensive products enter Europe, they face a tariff gap of around 10 percent compared to Vietnam," National Economic Council (DEN) Deputy Chair Mari Elka Pangestu said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Hopefully next year (if IEU-CEPA comes into effect) that 10 percent gap will no longer exist, placing us on par with Vietnam," she added.

Mari Elka explained that equalizing tariff access will strengthen Indonesia's p...