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Indonesia has urged the European Union to immediately implement the ruling issued by the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement panel on palm oil, the Antara news agency reported.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, Trade Minister Budi Santoso said that Tuesday, 24 February, marked the end of the 12-month reasonable period granted to the EU to amend policies and regulations found to be inconsistent with WTO provisions.
He added that the Indonesian government would continue to monitor and assess the EU's policy adjustments, particularly those relating to indirect land use change policies.
Santoso said: "We urge the EU to implement the WTO panel's decision immediately in order to restore access for Indonesian palm oil products to the EU market as soon as possible."
Once the transition period concludes, the government will carry out a comprehensive assessment covering regulatory, methodological and trade impact aspects to ensure the EU complies with the WTO ruling by eliminating discriminatory treatment of Indonesian palm oil products.
The minister noted that the WTO ruling in the dispute (DS593) found that EU policies discriminate against biofuel products based on Indonesian palm oil compared with similar products from the EU and other countries. The ruling provides legal clarity regarding the EU measures' violation of the WTO's non-discrimination principle.
Santoso explained that the government has prepared various scenarios in the event the EU fails to demonstrate full compliance by the end of the reasonable period, including measures necessary to ensure legal and technical readiness.
Source: Bernama