ASEAN Opposes Discrimination Against Palm Oil
INDONESIA in collaboration with ASEAN countries are preparing joint measures to respond the European Union protectionism which is considered to be a discrimination against South East Asia’s commodities, including palm oil.
INDONESIA in collaboration with ASEAN countries are preparing joint measures to respond the European Union protectionism which is considered to be a discrimination against South East Asia’s commodities, including palm oil. Joint actions are needed because the EU also imposes protectionist measures on rice from Myanmar and Cambodia.
Speaking to the press at the 25th Asean Economic Minister’s Retreat (AEM Retreat) in Phuket, Thailand, Monday (22/4/2019), Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said that ASEAN has agreed two actions to challenge the protectionist measures.
First, ASEAN countries have agreed to deliver instruction to their representatives in Geneve, Swiss to voice strong opposition to the EU. Second, ASEAN countries have agreed to release joint statement telling to convey their disappointment and to fight the act put forward by the EU, including tariff or non tariff barriers.
Should the EU continues implementing such policies, ASEAN shall do the same to the EU. “We don’t want trade war but if the EU do this, we will tell them that the EU starts the trade war. We will not stay silent,” Enggartiasto said as quoted by Bisnis.com. ***