Dr. Herman Khaeron, Member of the Trade Commission in the Indonesian Parliament, has called for Indonesia to impose a reciprocal ban on Belgian exports, following the decision by Minister Zakia Khattabi to ban biofuels made from palm oil from 2022.
MP Dr Khaeron states:
“This is an act of trade protectionism” which “will directly harm palm oil small farmers across Indonesia. […] Indonesia should provide a strong response… The Belgian Government has decided to start a trade war and this hostile act has consequences.”
Dr Khaeron, who has also served as Deputy Chairman of the Agriculture Commission, recommends that milk and dairy products produced by Belgian farmers should be subject to an import ban. Belgium exported almost €100m of milk & dairy to Indonesia in 2019.
Full Statement from Dr. Herman Khaeron, Member of Trade Commission, Indonesian Parliament:
“The Belgian Government has announced a ban on palm oil biofuels starting in 2022. This will directly harm palm oil small farmers across Indonesia. This is an act of trade protectionism by Belgium. Indonesia should provide a strong response to this aggressive act.
“Indonesia should consider a reciprocal ban on Belgian exports, for example milk and dairy products produced by Belgian farmers, also starting in 2022. The Belgian Government has decided to start a trade war and this hostile act has consequences in our international trading system.
“Indonesian palm oil is the most sustainable vegetable oil in the world today. It provides income, security, renewable energy and improved life chances for millions of small farmers throughout Indonesia. It is highly regrettable that the Belgian Government has decided to choose conflict instead of cooperation.”
Background
- Belgian Minister of Environment and Climate, Zakia Khattabi, announced that biofuels made from palm oil will be banned from mid-2022. Source: https://khattabi.belgium.be/fr/le-soja-et-lhuile-de-palme-ne-feront-bient%C3%B4t-plus-partie-des-biocarburants
- In 2019, Indonesia imported over €90m of milk and dairy products from Belgium. Source : https://tradingeconomics.com/indonesia/imports/belgium/dairy-products-eggs-honey-edible-products