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EU free trade talks to wrap up this month

South-East Asia's largest economy and the Euro­pean Union are expected to conclude talks over an economic cooperation deal that will relax trade barriers this month, Jakarta's top econo­mic minister said. Indonesia and the 27-member European bloc have been negotiating since 2016 to strike a deal that is expected to increase trade and investment. Ties have been frayed by a proposed import ban on products linked to deforestation into the EU that has angered Indonesia because it is a major palm oil exporter. However, Jakarta's chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto told an online briefing on Saturday that talks were nearing their conclusion. 'We already have entered the final round. This means that we have resolved almost all issues,' Airlangga told reporters. He said in an earlier statement Indonesia and the EU would announce the conclusion of the negotiations by the end of June. Airlangga did not disclose any agreements that would be part of the deal. He said the next step was a legal drafting process to be completed in a 'short time' before the two parties could ratify the agreement. — AFP