Free trade deal on track: minister

AUSTRALIA remains confident of signing a free trade deal with Indonesia within months, despite tensions over the potential move of an embassy to Jerusalem.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has talked down concerns the agreement could be stalled until after the next election. “I don’t think that’s at all likely,” he said in Singapore on Tuesday.

Senator Birmingham also quashed concerns the deal could be sunk once Indonesians go to the polls next April. Indonesia’s opposition leader has been campaigning hard on national issues such as import controls.

“We want to see it signed, Indonesia wants to see it signed. I’m confident we will see it signed before then,” the minister said.

Negotiations on the Indonesia- Australia free trade deal concluded in August. But the agreement appears to be on hold as Indonesia is angry about Australia’s potential move of an embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Senator Birmingham met with his Indonesian counterpart on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Singapore to discuss progress on the trade deal. The minister described yesterday’s talks as “warm and positive”.

“We’re both committed to seeing this agreement signed and I’m confident it will be,” Senator Birmingham said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said he wanted the deal signed by Christmas, but on Monday said there was “no rush”.