Govt Mulls Another Strategy to Maintain Nickel Export Restriction

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has appealed to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Appellate Body to defend the ban on nickel ore exports. The European Union has challenged this policy through the WTO. "We're utilizing the WTO, which has the authority to appeal to the Appellate Body," Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Mansury told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday.

Apart from the appeal, Pahala stated that Indonesia is also pursuing another route through the European Parliament. The government conveyed Indonesia's desire to maintain good trade relations with Europe. "Indonesia can be a good trading partner if, for example, several European countries or entities want to invest. We are currently in discussions with these institutions so that European companies can undertake nickel downstreaming efforts in Indonesia," he said.