Indonesia Prepares To Fight Lawsuit For Ban On Nickel Exports At WTO, Jokowi: Don't Be Nervous, Prepare International Lawyer

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily RE

JAKARTA - Indonesia's relations with the European Union (EU) will certainly intensify as the policy of banning nickel ore exports is being sued by the World Trade Organization (WTO). President Jokowi has ordered to fight the lawsuit.

The EU has officially requested the establishment of a DS 592-Measures Relating to Raw Materials dispute panel at regular meetings of the Dispute Settlement Body (Dispute Settlement Body-WTO) on February 22, 2021.

"Yes, this is nickel, our nickel. Our goods, our goods. We want to make a factory here, we want to make goods here, it's our right", said Jokowi, Wednesday, October 13.

"Yes, we will face it, if someone sues, we will face it. Don't be sued (then) we back off again. The opportunity will never come again, the opportunity will come again, it won't", he continued when giving a briefing to the Participants of the XXIII Forced Short Education Program (PPSA) and the 2021 LXII Regular Education Program (PPRA) of Lemhannas RI (National Defense Institute of the Republic of Indonesia).

Jokowi does not want Indonesia to lose momentum again. In the past, when oil and timber exploded, Indonesia only continued to export without thinking about processing. Jokowi really remembers past experiences.

Therefore, after nickel, Jokowi also plans to stop bauxite exports. Jokowi no longer wants to just export any raw materials.

"Even though we were sued at the WTO (World Trade Organization), it's okay", he continued.

"Palm is the same. At some point, we will stop exporting CPO. It has to be cosmetic, it has to be butter, it has to be biodiesel, and it has other derivatives. And once again, we have to have courage. WTO. Yes, we have prepared international class lawyers, we have not lost. In the process, we are preparing everything to integrate what we aspire to", continued Jokowi.