TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto is hopeful that Indonesia’s Crude Palm Oil (CPO) export to France will not be undermined by the country’s impending imposition of a special tax for palm oil products.
Therefore, Airlangga has met with Indonesian Ambassador to France Leut. Gen. (ret.) Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan at the Industry Ministry building in Jakarta.
“We discussed many things about palm oil. Including natural diversity. We don’t want to face problems with regard to the product,” Airlangga said Wednesday, Nov. 9, after meeting with Pandjaitan in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.
In the meeting, he addressed the challenges faced by the Indonesia’s CPO export to France. “He [Mr. Ambassador] is concerned with the issue. But we also have to keep an eye on it,” Airlangga said.
The French parliament has approved an additional tax on palm oil for food effective in 2017.
Additional retribution is aimed at reflecting the environmental damage palm oil plantations can cause at the tax rate of 90 euros (102 US dollars) per ton.
The figure is way below the initial proposed rate of 300 euros in January 2016. Nevertheless, palm oil produces who could comply with the sustainabile environmental criteria will not be subject to the tax.
ANTARA
