Malaysia and Indonesia ready to fight EU at WTO over palm oil ban

In Malaysia, during a meeting between the trade ministers for Malaysia and Indonesia, the countries expressed deep disappointment in the allegedly unfair treatment by the EU on palm oil in favor of other vegetable oils and commodities which they say also contribute significantly to deforestation. This EU resolution as well as the unfair labeling practices by the private sector in the EU will adversely affect not only exports of palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia to the EU market but also the livelihood of millions of small holders.

Malaysia and Indonesia will be working together to enhance cooperation under the ambit of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC). Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to meet at the end of July 2017 to discuss and coordinate issues related to palm oil including a joint CPOPC mission to Europe to engage with relevant parties and stakeholders.

Further, Malaysia and Indonesia will consider taking this issue to the World Trade Organization (WTO), if the Resolution becomes an EU Directive and discriminatory in nature.