TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Trade Ministry said that it would take a diplomatic move following France's decision to impose import taxes for CPO commodities. Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said that he had signed a letter sent to French Minister who proposed the import taxes to the senate.
Tom said that he was disappointed with the idea of imposing taxes on CPO. Tom added that the idea was not new, as five years ago the French government proposed tax imposition for palm oil imports, which was rejected by the senate.
Tom hoped that the French government would reconsider its decision to impose taxes for CPO imports. Tom claimed that such a decision was a protectionist move, which was not in accordance with the modern world.
"I expect an exemplary and better leadership from a country as developed as France," Thomas said in Jakarta onWednesday, February 3, 2016.
Tom admitted that he would not send a complaint to the World Trade Organization in relation to the issue, since it was just a plan.
Meanwhile, Tom revealed, African countries had sent protest notes in relation to the plan. Therefore, Tom expressed optimism that the French government would scrap the plan, as the decision to approve the policy would be a lengthy process.
The French government had mulled to impose 300 Euro tax per ton of CPO next year. In 2018, the amount of the tax would be increased to 500 Euro per ton, 700 Euro per ton in 2019, and 900 Euro per ton in 2020. Currently the French government imposes import tax of 97 Euro - 100 Euro per ton of CPO.
MAWARDAH NUR HANIFIYANI