Malaysia and Indonesia today expressed deep disappointment over the unfair treatment by the European Union (EU) on palm oil in favour of other vegetable oils and commodities.

Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Minister of Trade, Indonesia, Enggartiasto Lukita met in Kuching, Sarawak, on July 13 in conjunction with the 3rd Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Trade and Investment Committee meeting in which one of the issues discussed was the EU Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of the Rainforest.

Both ministers, in a joint statement, said the two countries were considering taking this issue to the World Trade Organisation if the resolution becomes an EU Directive and discriminatory in nature.

They said the EU resolution, as well as the unfair labelling practices by the private sector in the EU would adversely affect not only exports of palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia to the EU market but also the livelihood of millions of smallholders.

Malaysia and Indonesia would also be working together to enhance cooperation under the ambit of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and expected to meet at end-July 2017 to discuss and coordinate issues related to palm oil, including a joint CPOPC mission to Europe to engage with relevant parties and stakeholders.

-- BERNAMA