Free Trade in Asian Palm Biofuels takes Baby Steps Forward, but Maybe It Shouldn’t Have
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest Asia) …On the one hand, the EU position to allow import of uncertified Malaysian palm biodiesel, but withhold EU subsidies, is not clear or comprehensive enough. On the Asian side, it involves only Malaysia, one of the parties to the broader EU restraint of biodiesel trade case about to come before the court of the World Trade Organization. And it makes a doubtful overture to the free trade agreement set to be negotiated between the EU and Malaysia.
…It also ignores the fact that the EU is not the only source of large scale palm oil demand with the potential to endanger the world’s climate and environment. In fact, the largest palm oil importer is India, which uses palm oil for power production and biofuel as well as food uses.
…This is no longer about Europe’s conscience. It’s about whether, and if so how, the world’s nations will work together to slow climate change and avert a world trade and resource war. READ MORE
