Deputy Minister Of Trade Jerry: Indonesia Still Waiting For The Decision Of The European Union's Palm Oil Discrimination Lawsuit At WTO

Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Trade (Kemdag) is still waiting for the results of decisions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) related to the policy of palm discrimination implemented by the European Union.

Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag) Jerry Sambuaga said there was still no decision on palm oil on the WTO.

Even so, Jerry is optimistic that Indonesia will win in the lawsuit.

According to him, Indonesia has clear rights and sovereignty to fight for palm oil in the international world.

"Still waiting for the process. We are optimistic and confident that we will win the lawsuit," Jerry told reporters, written Monday, January 30.

Previously, Assistant Deputy for Agribusiness Development at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Edy Yusuf, said that the panel of report results from the lawsuit was expected to be published at the end of 2022 or at least in early 2023.

Meanwhile, the Director of Trade Security, Natan Kambuno, explained that the settlement process was hampered by the non-function of the Appellate Body (AB).

For your information, Indonesia previously sued the European Union (EU) regarding palm discrimination through the regulation of Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Delegated Regulation of the European Union in 2017.

The lawsuit has been registered with the WTO with case number DS 593.

Through RED II, the EU designated palm oil as a high-risk plant for deforestation.

Therefore, the EU will limit and gradually remove the use of crude palm oil (CPO) for biodiesel.

In addition, the EU also plans to gradually remove fuel based on palm oil by 2030 because it is considered related to deforestation.