PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR – Amid a growing wave of global protectionism, ASEAN is being called upon to adopt a firmer stance in demanding equitable market access from major trade partners such as the European Union (EU) and China. This call came from Dr. Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin, senior researcher at Universiti Teknologi MARA, who argued that Southeast Asia has tolerated harmful non-tariff barriers for too long, particularly affecting strategic sectors such as palm oil, halal products, and battery minerals for electric vehicles.
Dr. Noor Nirwandy emphasized that ASEAN’s leading palm oil exporting countries continue to face significant obstacles, particularly environmental standards that are increasingly used as pretexts to restrict trade. He specifically criticized the EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR) and its unwillingness to recognize nationally certified sustainability standards such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) schemes.
“This is clearly a double standard. The EU calls ASEAN a strategic partner but imposes restrictive policies on palm oil under the guise of environmental concerns,” he said, as quoted by beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com via Bernama on Sunday (13/7/2025). “If ASEAN wants fair treatment, it must act as a unified bloc and assert its own regional sustainability standards.”
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He further urged ASEAN to escalate the issue to international platforms such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), demanding formal recognition for ASEAN’s homegrown sustainability frameworks. “MSPO and ISPO are credible and robust. The EU’s rejection of them is more political than technical,” he added.
Dr. Noor Nirwandy also drew attention to the imbalanced trade relationship between ASEAN and China. While China enjoys significant export volumes to the region, ASEAN continues to run a persistent trade deficit. He called on member states to push for deeper and fairer access to the Chinese market, especially for high-value products such as halal goods and battery minerals.
“China gains enormously from its trade with ASEAN. It’s time for countries in the region—particularly influential ones like Malaysia—to leverage strategic commodities as bargaining tools in negotiations,” he stressed.
He cautioned that although ASEAN maintains a neutral geopolitical stance, this should not translate into economic passivity. “Neutrality is our strength, but neutrality doesn’t mean silence. We need bold economic diplomacy that reflects ASEAN’s significance in global supply chains,” he said.
Addressing the U.S.’s upcoming tariff policy—which will impose a 25% duty on select Malaysian products starting August 1—Dr. Noor Nirwandy warned that this should serve as a wake-up call. He urged ASEAN to accelerate economic integration and strengthen its internal mechanisms to mitigate external shocks.
He cited the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as frameworks that ASEAN must reinforce to expand market access and cushion against protectionist headwinds. “These trade pacts are essential buffers, but ASEAN must also build stronger institutions under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),” he noted.
In conclusion, Dr. Noor Nirwandy emphasized the need for a more effective and proactive regional negotiation mechanism—not just declarations of intent. “ASEAN must practice self-led diplomacy with tangible outcomes. Whether it’s EU regulations on palm oil, China’s market access, or U.S. trade barriers—ASEAN must speak with one voice,” he concluded. (P2)
