EU Could be Violating Three WTO Regulations

CPOPC found at least three potential violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations in the European Union’s (EU) trilogue decision draft on the future of palm oil in Europe.

EU Could be Violating Three WTO Regulations

JAKARTA--The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) found at least three potential violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations in the European Union’s (EU) trilogue decision draft on the future of palm oil in Europe.

CPOPC Executive Director Mahendra Siregar said the first potential violation is the annual consumption of biofuel from 2021 to 2030 will be restricted to the 2019 or 2020’s consumption level. This could be a potential non-tariff barrier that is prohibited by the WTO.

“The second issue is the EU’s biofuel limitation applies several criteria that have yet to be recognised internationally. If those criteria are not applied to restrict EU products, it is also a discrimination," Mahendra said, as quoted by Bisnis.com, (24/6/2018).

The third issue is the post-2030 biofuel limitation is not based on any recognized international regulation. ***