Illustrative image (Photo: Reuters) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysian Government is planningto file a case with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the EuropeanUnion (EU) by this year over its discrimination against palm oil.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister WillieMongin said on July 20 Malaysia is adamant and steadfast in taking legal actionagainst the EU due to its discrimination towards Malaysian palm oil.
Earlier, the EC had decided to restrict the import of palm oilfrom Indonesia and Malaysia, saying the oil is not sustainable andenvironmentally friendly as the locals have to burn forests for the biofuel.
Plantation Industries and Commodities MinisterDatuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on July 1 that the ministry, with thecooperation of Attorney-General’s Chambers, will file the action through theWTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.
He stressed this discrimination by the EU willhave a negative impact on more than three million Malaysians involved in thepalm oil industry.
Malaysia will also act as a third party inIndonesia's WTO case against the EU, he added.
Indonesia took the EU to WTO over“discrimination” palm oil policy in December 2019. Both Indonesia and Malaysiaare the world's topproducers of palmoil, accounting for around 80 percent of global output.
The palm oil industry brings about 40 billionringgit (nearly 1 billion USD) to Malaysia each year, and accounts for nearly 3percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP). /.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister WillieMongin said on July 20 Malaysia is adamant and steadfast in taking legal actionagainst the EU due to its discrimination towards Malaysian palm oil.
Earlier, the EC had decided to restrict the import of palm oilfrom Indonesia and Malaysia, saying the oil is not sustainable andenvironmentally friendly as the locals have to burn forests for the biofuel.
Plantation Industries and Commodities MinisterDatuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on July 1 that the ministry, with thecooperation of Attorney-General’s Chambers, will file the action through theWTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.
He stressed this discrimination by the EU willhave a negative impact on more than three million Malaysians involved in thepalm oil industry.
Malaysia will also act as a third party inIndonesia's WTO case against the EU, he added.
Indonesia took the EU to WTO over“discrimination” palm oil policy in December 2019. Both Indonesia and Malaysiaare the world's topproducers of palmoil, accounting for around 80 percent of global output.
The palm oil industry brings about 40 billionringgit (nearly 1 billion USD) to Malaysia each year, and accounts for nearly 3percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP). /.
VNA
