Indonesia warned palm oil export ban could backfire, say top experts

JAKARTA, April 23 (dpa): A decision by Indonesia to ban exports of crude palm oil to tackle a shortage of cooking oil that has sparked protests could backfire, a legislator and an economist warned on Saturday.

President Joko Widodo announced on Friday that exports of cooking oil and crude palm oil would be suspended starting April 28 in a bid to stabilize prices at home.