Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington

UK CPTPP membership to result in more deforestation

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Apr 2023 11:12
3 Min Read

Environmental organizations are voicing worries about the Pacific trade agreement's effects when the UK agreed to remove European tariffs on palm oil as a requirement for joining the deal.

  • x
  • An aerial photo of a palm oil plantation in Batanghari, Jambi province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia November 28, 2018. (REUTERS)
    An aerial photo of a palm oil plantation in Batanghari, Jambi province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia November 28, 2018 (Reuters)

Campaigners say the UK's membership in a Pacific trade agreement will worsen global deforestation, threaten animal welfare, and "make a mockery" of the government's climate goals.

Late last week, ministers approved the UK's entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an association of 11 countries that includes Japan, Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

According to the government, joining the EU would boost the UK's economy by roughly £1.8 billion annually and open up markets for different goods.

Environmental organizations, meanwhile, have voiced worries about the trade agreement's effects when the UK agreed to remove European tariffs on palm oil as a requirement for joining the Pacific deal.

Last week, Kemi Badenoch, the trade secretary, said as quoted by Sky News that “you have to make trade-offs” in signing trade deals and that palm oil was “a great product” and “not some illegal substance."

She added, “There are other crops in the EU that are causing deforestation that fit within EU rules.” 

Related News

Heatwave may kill 600 in UK, scientists blame climate change

'Israel' turns Gaza to rubble, planet Earth pays deadly carbon price

Environmental and animal welfare organizations were outraged by the comments, and they warned that the agreement would encourage deforestation abroad, particularly in south-east Asia, and could open the door for the importation of cheap, subpar meat produced in ways that would be against the law in the relevant countries.

Malaysian palm oil production is especially concerning because tariffs, which are currently 12%, will be lifted and imports could rise, even from deforested regions.

According to years of research by conservation organizations, palm oil is strongly linked to deforestation, the destruction of habitats for endangered species like the orangutan, and deadly forest fires.

The UK government led a global movement to stop deforestation at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021. Ministers have also introduced new regulations to stop products from deforested regions from being sold in the UK.

The RSPCA claims that animal welfare would also be compromised. Several CPTPP members employ production techniques that are prohibited in the UK, such as sow stalls, battery eggs, antibiotic use, hormone treatment, and the use of pesticides.

According to the organization, there are no specific references to animal welfare requirements in the formal rules of the trading bloc, and it is concerned that UK consumers may unknowingly purchase items made using these techniques.

A spokesperson for the Department of Business and Trade said, as quoted by the Guardian, “The UK is committed to tackling illegal deforestation within our supply chains, and our agreement to join CPTPP does not change that. We will always support the sustainable production of palm oil, and at accession we will publish a joint statement with Malaysia to protect forests. Existing UK tariffs on Malaysian palm oil are already low, and the UK accounted for around 1% of Malaysia’s global palm oil exports last year, with deforestation related to palm oil in Malaysia falling 60% since 2012.”

Read next: Indonesia, Malaysia to defend palm oil from EU 'discriminatory' ban

  • Climate change
  • Oil Production
  • Pacific trade deal
  • UK

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly: Israeli media

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza: Israeli media

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS