Indonesia president vows to fight EU palm oil rules

Indonesia’s president promised yesterday to fight the European Union over plans to restrict the use of palm oil in biofuels. It has set a 2030 limit for phasing out palm oile. But the plans have angered big palm oil producing nations like Indonesia and Malaysia, whose economies are dependent on the commodity.

In an interview with Bloomberg News published Friday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he was determined to get the EU to change its rules. “For me, if there is discrimination like that, I will fight because of the 16 million farmers and workers in this business,” he said.

Palm oil and its associated industries contribute roughly four percent to Indonesia’s GDP and provide a livelihood for six percent of the population.