India mulls curbing Malaysian imports over IOK criticism

MUMBAI: India has planned on curbing imports of some products from Malaysia including palm oil, in reaction to its premier criticising New Delhi for its actions in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

A discussion was led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the government officials on the planning restrictions.

During the discussion, it has been decided that India would consider ways to limit palm oil imports and may place restrictions on other goods from the country.

India is the world’s biggest importer of edible oils. The sources asked not to be named as the proposal has still been under discussion.

Read also: Human Rights Watch urges India to end curfew in IoK

The Indian government’s reacted after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the United Nations said that New Delhi had invaded IoK and asked India to work with Pakistan to settle the issue.

According to the sources, India is planning to substitute Malaysian palm oil with supplies of edible oils from countries such as Indonesia, Argentina, and Ukraine.

Palm oil accounts for nearly two-thirds of India’s total edible oil imports. India buys more than nine million tonnes of palm oil annually, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia.

According to data compiled by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, in the first nine months of 2019, India was the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil, taking 3.9 million tonnes.