RI ready to face Japan in WTO over export restriction complaint
Wednesday, June 13 2012 - 07:23 AM WIB
Industry Minister MS Hidayat said that the government would counter Japan in the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the latter's complaint on Indonesia's export restriction on nickel ores.
Japan, the world's second largest nickel consumer, plans to take the issue of mineral ores restriction to the WTO should it fail to reach a compromise with Indonesia.
Hidayat defended that Indonesia did not ban the export of metal ores but only apply certain restrictions on it.
"We consider that this policy is right. We do not ban export, we only limit the export of mineral ores for the benefit of our national interest," said Hidayat.
"We will prepare our best lawyers to defend our interest in the WTO."
The government regulated export of 65 raw materials of metal, non metal and rocks, including nickel since May 6.
Editing by Adianto P. Simamora