GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono has had an opinion piece published in EU Observer. He lays out how the new trade agreement announcement between Indonesia and the EU, and the impasse over the EUDR, could lead to new opportunities for cooperation. Key excerpts below.
“Indonesia and the EU have both recognised that strengthening economic ties is essential in today’s global trading environment. Indonesia has been actively diversifying its trade relationships through bilateral and multilateral frameworks like ASEAN, while the EU seeks to expand export markets and enhance competitiveness.
The path to this point has been marked by numerous roadblocks, with agricultural trade — particularly palm oil — at the centre of disputes. However, these challenges have created opportunities for constructive dialogue and mutual understanding.
“Indonesia has consistently advocated for four key elements: greater smallholder inclusion, recognition of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, acknowledgement of Indonesia’s substantial deforestation reduction efforts, and recognition of Indonesian data for risk benchmarking.
These represent practical steps toward achieving shared environmental objectives while ensuring fair treatment for Indonesia’s 2.7 million smallholder farmers, who deserve access to global markets.
The EU has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership by providing concrete assistance and capacity building for small farmers. Supporting the development of a compliance module for ISPO certification would help Indonesian producers meet EU standards while strengthening environmental protections—a win-win outcome.
The EU’s own farmers recognise the importance of practical compliance solutions, and this shared understanding can bridge the gap with developing country producers.”
Read the full piece here.