Indonesia Threatens to Boycott European Products Related Palm Oil Discrimination

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia threatens to take retaliatory actions to boycott European products into Indonesia, if Europe officially enforces the Delegated Act in Renewable Energy Directive II, which is considered as the discriminatory against palm oil products.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Economy, Darmin Nasution said the retaliation could be taken in addition to making a lawsuit to the WTO.

“If they (the European Union) can unilaterally (decide on a palm ban), we cannot do unilaterally (a European product boycott,” Minister Darmin said in a palm oil discrimination briefing by the European Union on Wednesday.

Darmin explained that the Delegated Act had been adopted by the European Commission on March 13 which would then be held in the European parliament.

“The time given to the European Commission is 2 months since March 13. But there is a meeting in the European Parliament so that the process can progress on March 25-28, ” Darmin said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He emphasized that oil palm is Indonesia’s number one superior crop and commodity. Darmin stressed that Indonesia did not want to be contested with the EU’s covert protectionist measures wrapped in scientific material through the Delegated Act.

“Where one commodity in history of the world that they have only targeted. So there is no doubt that this is discrimination, “he stressed.

According to Darmin, Indonesia will take all the steps that can be taken to fight steps of European Union.

Minister Darmin added that oil palm has an important role in alleviating poverty in Indonesia so that it becomes the government’s top priority. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)