European Union AND CERTAIN MEMBER STATES – Certain Measures Concerning
Palm Oil and Oil Palm Crop-based Biofuels

Request to Join Consultations

Communication from Indonesia

The following communication, dated 29 January 2021, from the delegation of Indonesia to the delegation of France, Lithuania and the European Union, and the delegation of Malaysia, is circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.

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Pursuant to Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Government of Indonesia hereby notifies the European Union, Malaysia and the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of its desire to join the consultations requested by Malaysia in a communication circulated to WTO Members on 19 January 2021, entitled European Union and Certain Member States – Certain Measures concerning Palm Oil and Oil Palm Crop-Based Biofuels (WT/DS600/1). 

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil with an export value of around US$ 14.7 billion in 2019. In the same year, Indonesia exported over US$1.8 billion of its palm oil to the EU market. Indonesia has been the largest supplier of palm oil to the European Union for over one decade. The concerns identified in Malaysia's consultations request are not unique to Malaysia. Indonesia has brought similar concerns to the DSB in the context of WT/DS593: European Union - Certain Measures concerning Palm Oil and Oil Palm Crop-Based Biofuels. Therefore, Indonesia has a substantial trade interest in these consultations.   

The request to be joined in the consultations is made without prejudice to the rights of Indonesia in WT/DS593.

Indonesia looks forward to receiving your reply and advice of the date and venue of these consultations.