"Indonesia files WTO palm oil suit as tensions with EU grow", 15 Dec 2019

Indonesia has filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union, claiming the bloc's restrictions on palm oil-based biofuel are unfair...

The EU launched a complaint at the WTO in late November over Indonesian curbs on nickel ore exports and hit Indonesian biodiesel with tariffs...

The European Commission concluded...that palm oil cultivation results in excessive deforestation and should not count toward renewable energy targets.

The result is that palm oil-based diesel would not be considered a biofuel and its use in transport fuel would effectively be phased out between 2023 and 2030...

Indonesia sent a request for consultations with the EU on December 9, 2019...

The consultation phase lasts 60 days. If no solution is found, the EU can then request that the WTO set up a panel to adjudicate...

Indonesia's Director General of Foreign Trade Indrasari Wisnu Wardhana said the EU's policy would not just impact Indonesia's palm oil exports to Europe, but would also tarnish the image of palm oil products globally.