REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- Indonesia will be ready for a trade war, sparked by European countries, with their negative campaign against palm oil, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita stated.

A negative campaign against crude palm oil is merely an unhealthy competition in the vegetable oil business, Lukita stated at the International Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) 2017 here, Friday.

"The European Union (EU) has always denied that it (the negative campaign) is a trade war. We will be proactive in handling this issue. We will face a trade war," the minister remarked.

According to Lukita, Indonesia will not be restrained by several requirements set by the EU on Indonesian palm oil entering its market.