Appeals For Nickel's Export Decision To WTO, Minister Of Industry: Downstreaming Continues And Inevitably Foreign Investment Interests

Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Photo: Doc. Kemenperin)

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the government had appealed panels to the World Trade Organization or WTO regarding the policy of prohibiting exports and downstreaming domestic nickel ore, which violated international trade regulations.

"We have appealed. We remain consistent there, there has been no other decision beyond that," Agus said at the Fairmont Hotel, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, December 20.

He also ensured that the case would not have an impact on downstreaming activities in Indonesia and the government was still waiting for the results of the appeal trial.

"For the time being, we are continuing with the downstream program," said Agus.

Furthermore, Agus said, the export lawsuit made by the government will not interfere with foreign countries' interest in investing in Indonesia.

"It has no impact (on downstreaming activities). (In fact), downstreaming will bring investors," he said.

As is known, the Indonesian government has officially filed an appeal against the WTO panel decision regarding the dispute with the European Union, on December 12, 2022.

The government filed an appeal as a form of further defense of the final panel report on October 17, which stated that Indonesia was proven to have violated the provisions of the WTO Article XI.1 GATT 1994 in a dispute registered in the dispute settlement settlement (DS) 592.