17/02/2012 (TEMPO Interactive) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says it is unfair that the US has rejected Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO).

“Banning a country from planting palm oil when it could affect the welfare of people in a developing country is not a good choice in my opinion,” he said yesterday at the Foreign Department.

Regarding environmental reasons proposed by the US, the president gave assurances that Indonesia is now controlling and supervising palm oil plantations more effectively.

“I agree 200 percent that plantations shouldn’t harm the environment,” he said, while denying that Indonesian palm oil plantations harm the environment.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” he said in front of ambassadors, ASEAN representatives and international organizations.

In a previous discussion with journalists, the US ambassador to Indonesia, Scot Marciel, said the policy was not intended to ban palm oil imports from Indonesia.

Indonesia can still export palm oil to the US. However, this palm oil does not meet the requirements to participate in the bio-fuel production program.