VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Foreign AffairsRetnoMarsudi held a bilateral meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister StephanusAbraham Blok at Pancasila Building, Indonesian Foreign AffairsMinistry, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 3rd. After the meeting,RetnoMarsudi said that she had asked the Netherlands as one of the EU member states to help Indonesia face discrimination against palm oil product which becomes one of its main export commodities.

“One of the largest component of Indonesia’s export to the Netherland is palm oil. Therefore, I raise the issue of discrimination against palm oil to the attention of Minister Blok. We have read the approve draftand remain very concern of its high potential on discrimination. The draft stipulate that it will use indirect land-used changed or ILUC as criteria which reflect more European view rather than an internationally accepted on,” Retno said.

Foreign Minister Marsudi further said the Government of Indonesia will continue negotiations with the EU to resolve one of the region's largest trade agreements, the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), although disputes between the two are related to palm oil still continue. He stressed that the negotiations to be taken should take into account the interests of both parties, including Indonesia's interest in palm oil trade. (VOI/Rezha/DP)