This article provides an in-depth analysis of the complex dynamics occurring between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the context of the palm oil dispute with Indonesia and Malaysia. The study focuses on the profound impact of the EU's energy and environmental policies on the palm oil industry, a crucial economic sector in these two countries. The palm oil dispute has resulted in a mark decline in the support and favor ability for the EU in these two countries, thereby jeopardizing the broader EU-ASEAN strategic partnership. This situation has also created a volatile environment in which the potential for a full-scale trade war is high. Through a meticulous analysis of the historical evolution of exchanges between the European Union and Malaysia and Indonesia, this article sheds light on the multifaceted complexities inherent in this dispute. It also explores the far-reaching implications of this disagreement on social and political issues in both the European Union and ASEAN. This dispute has the potential to change the trade landscape and affect the geostrategic balance between the two regions, making it a topic of great significance and relevance in contemporary international relations.
Sébastien Goulard (Sun,) studied this question.