BERLIN, GERMANY, March 16 – During his visit to Germany, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized Malaysia’s call for Germany to adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach towards palm oil exports to Europe. Anwar expressed concerns that European Union (EU) policies, particularly the Deforestation Regulation aimed at combating climate change, might inadvertently impose non-tariff trade barriers on palm oil.
In a meeting with Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, Anwar highlighted the need for fair treatment and discussed the ongoing Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Both leaders hoped for a positive outcome from the scoping exercise aimed at bridging gaps between their respective positions. Additionally, they explored collaborations to enhance the skills of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), welcomed Germany’s support for ASEAN initiatives, and discussed education and energy transition cooperation between Malaysia and Germany.
