Indonesia denies freezing CEPA negotiation with EU
The international trade negotiation director general of Indonesia’s Trade Ministry, Iman Pambagyo, has denied rumours that Indonesia will freeze negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union (EU) due to a recent palm oil resolution issued by the EU parliament.
Jakarta (VNA) – The international trade negotiation director generalof Indonesia’s Trade Ministry, Iman Pambagyo, has denied rumours that Indonesiawill freeze negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement(CEPA) with the European Union (EU) due to a recentꦦ palm oil resolution issuedby the EU parliament.
According to the Jakarta Post on May 4, Iman Pambagyo affirmed thatthere is no such plan as Indonesia wants to bring that CPO (crude palm oil)issue into the context of trade and sustainable development under the CEPAplatform. On April 4, the EU parliament issued a resolution to only importsustainable oil palm products after 2020. The resolution also called for a singlesustainability standard despite Indonesia already having its own sustainablepalm oil standard. The resolution sparked controversy and disappointment among Indonesianstakeholders. Local businesspeople grouped under the National Palm Oil Board ofIndonesia even asked the government to pause CEPA negotiations. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Trade Ministry stated that the CEPA has animportant role to boost trade, services, investment and sustainable developmentbetween Indonesia and the EU. Total trade between Indonesia and the EU is considered small, at just 25.1billion USD, according to TradeMap.-VNA
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Illustrative image (Source: AFP/Getty Images) 
