Indonesia Calls ASEAN, EU to Oppose Protectionism on Palm Oil

INDONESIAN Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi voiced concern about trade protectionism on agriculture products, exclusively on palm oil. Retno called ASEAN and European Union communities to promote multilateral principles rather than protectionism. “It has to be reflected on consistent policy, including on palm oil,” Retno said on the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers Meeting in Singapore, Friday (3/8/2018). On the press release published on Kemlu.go.id  (5/8/2018), Retno said there is an indication that Indonesian palm oil products have been discriminated in the EU market. Indonesia followed closely the results of the EU Trialog agreement for Renewable Energy Directive II in June 2018. `There’s a potential discrimination on palm oil trade. Their policy showed a clear bias in favor of biofuel criteria. They distinguished biofuel based on the level of carbon emission risk on the `Indirect Land Used Changed` (ILUC) scheme,” Retno said. During the meeting, the Indonesian delegation asked to discuss palm oil issue wisely since more than 5 million smallholders in ASEAN make a living from palm oil.  “Palm oil has significant role in our efforts to improve people’s standards of living. It is impossible for us to discuss this issue without considering elements of Sustainable Development Goals. For that reason, Indonesia encourages EU to develop inclusive sustainability standard for all type of vegetable oils, the SDGs Compliance on Vegetable Oils,” Retno noted. Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has also brought up the same topic during the meeting. ***