Malaysia on Thursday said it could stop exports to the European Union in response to a new law the EU says is aimed at protecting forests by restricting palm oil imports.
The EU has in recent years imposed several rules to regulate palm imports after concluding its cultivation results in excessive deforestation, raising an outcry from top producers Indonesia and Malaysia. Here is a timeline of the rising tensions between the Asian palm oil producers and the EU over the matter.Malaysia raises its concern after EU lawmakers call for greater vetting of palm and other vegetable oils used in biofuels to prevent the bloc's post-2020 renewable transport targets from contributing to deforestation.EU negotiators agree to phase out the use of palm oil in transport fuels from 2030.