JAKARTA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia welcomed a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that supports the archipelago nation in its dispute over "palm oil discrimination" by the European Union (EU), government ministers said on Friday.
"This victory demonstrates that in the case of palm oil and biodiesel, Europe is recognized for discriminating against Indonesia. So, the biodiesel that we are now taking as a policy, the world has to accept," Airlangga Hartarto, coordinating minister for economic affairs, said.
In addition to providing justice, Airlangga noted that this ruling serves as a foundation for expanding regional collaboration with Malaysia and other palm oil-producing countries, as well as enhancing globally recognized sustainability standards.
Airlangga emphasized the necessity of maintaining this momentum to overcome barriers in the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations.
Budi Santoso, minister of trade, said that this victory sends a strong message to the European Union to avoid implementing discriminatory regulations.
"We hope that other trading partner countries will not implement similar policies that could hinder global trade," said Budi.
In its ruling, the WTO determined that the EU not only failed to properly evaluate data related to the high land use conversion risk category for palm-based biofuels but also unfairly advantaged rapeseed and soybean-based biofuels. ■