VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II, and Delegated Regulation-DR imposed by the European Union on palm oil products, are discriminatory measures that are detrimental to palm oil producing countries, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. The policy has caused the export of Indonesian palm oil products to the European Union to decline. That was stated by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto to VOI reporter, at the 2nd Meeting of the Ministerial Level of Palm Oil Producing Countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Monday (Nov 18). Minister Airlangga said that currently there is a competition between vegetable oil and palm oil producing countries. Therefore, Indonesia and Malaysia will consult in facing the negative campaign of European Union at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“There is actually another vegetable oil competition with palm oil. It was clear that soybean oil production was far below 30 percent compared to palm oil production. To face a negative campaign and legislation that has been agreed in the European Union, Indonesia and Malaysia will consult and communicate in dealing with this case at the WTO,” said Airlangga.

To stop the use of palm oil based transportation fuels, the European Union has also reduced Malaysian revenues from this sector. So, Minister Airlangga said it would be better if Indonesia and Malaysia jointly debate this case at the World Trade Organization (WTO)// DP/Trs.AF