UK is pushing for a deal that would boost imports linked to deforestation despite EU moves to ban unsustainable palm oil, diplomatic papers revealThe UK is defying EU institutions to push for a hike in nominally “sustainable” Indonesian palm oil imports which have nonetheless been linked to deforestation, leaked documents show. But a leaked British diplomatic paper seen by the Guardian calls for a planned EU-Indonesia trade deal known as CEPA to “boost” palm oil production. It advocates an “ambitious chapter” on sustainable trade, covering “primarily the production of palm oil”, arguing that global demand for sustainable palm would allow a doubling of the current supply. “Indonesia wants full market access for palm oil that complies only with weak and ineffective certification schemes. Palm oil should be taken out of the negotiations.”The Green MEP Heidi Hautala called for CEPA to be made a “test case” for environmental chapters in EU trade deals.

Source: The Guardian March 09, 2018 17:26 UTC