VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta: Indonesia strives to preserve the nation’s downstreaming policy despite the dispute over its nickel ore export ban, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.

The executive directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have asked Indonesia to consider phasing out export restrictions and not extending the restrictions to other commodities.

In a statement released on June 25, 2023, IMF said it welcomed Indonesia’s ambitions to increase value added in exports, attract foreign direct investment, and support the transfer of skills and technology.

However, the agency also noted that policies should be informed by further cost-benefit analysis and designed to minimize cross-border spillovers.

The European Union (EU) had earlier filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Indonesia's policy banning nickel ore exports, starting early 2020.

The WTO's dispute settlement body announced that Indonesia had violated the regulations.

"We will continue to appeal (the WTO ruling against the nickel ore export ban)," Hartarto told mediapersons in Jakarta.

He added that Indonesia's efforts to appeal the WTO ruling will not only seek to strive for the nation's right to downstream, but also to liberate Indonesia from new types of colonialism.

According to him, the IMF's recommendation to continue nickel exports is a form of "imperialism," adding that no country should force their will on other countries.

He emphasized that he will continue to defend Indonesia's right to obtain added value from commodities and phase out nickel exports. (antaranews)