Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will raise the issue of equality in its appeal against the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on the nickel export ban, which went in favor of the European Union, Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga said.
"First, we, as a country, have the right to exercise what we want; this is equality," he said after attending the Indonesian Digital Economy and Finance Festival here on Monday.
Indonesia will also argue about the right to choose which good it decides to export, either in the raw or processed form.
Indonesia has decided to prioritize exporting nickel in its processed form to generate added value. In addition, it is encouraging downstreaming by developing smelters to create jobs and help revive the economy.
"We will use this argument as it is related to our sovereignty as a nation; we have rights in international forums. This is normal and applies to all countries; the state has rights on national interest," Sambuaga added.
He said he is optimistic that, by using this argument, Indonesia will win the appeal against the EU, which has opposed Indonesia's policy banning the export of nickel in raw form.
In accordance with President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) directive, he said, Indonesia will use all efforts to defend its right to which products it wants to export.
"We have the right to determine what we export and prohibit to export. In this case, we agree that nickel is a priority good that must be downstreamed at home to give it added value. We strive for not exporting raw goods," he said.
The appeal process at the WTO will go through many stages, such as hiring, first stabilization, consultation, and first statement, he added.
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