FOI 0160-18 DIGEST OF INFORMATION HELD

From: (REDACTED)
Sent: 19 December 2017
To: (REDACTED)
Subject: Palm Oil & Possible Malaysian Sanctions
Dear (REDACTED)
I attended an EU HOMs meeting on 14 Dec where the issue of Palm Oil was
discussed at length, with possible implications for the UK.
In short (a summary of a non-expert), the EU Parliament that are soon (19 th Jan?) to
have a vote on Palm Oil (REDACTED). This is likely to be resisted by the C’ion in
Brussels (REDACTED), but (REDACTED) noted that this debate was already having
an impact on relations with Malaysia (REDACTED).
(REDACTED). He was aware that the Malaysians were now drawing up a list of
counter measures should the vote pass, and he cautioned they could well affect
several sectors, irrespective of whether a country was a palm oil importer.
(REDACTED)
COMMENT
This is a perennial EU issue, and I sensed little belief around the table some kind of
negative impact could be halted. The concern is that of reciprocal trade measures
by Malaysia against EU countries – which the UK is one of, (REDACTED). All of
which is to ask whether this is something we should be taking a greater interest in?
(REDACTED)

(REDACTED)
British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia