Indonesia's victory in this dispute is a major milestone in securing market access for our stainless steel in the EU and other countries.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has welcomed the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) ruling on the stainless steel dispute with the European Union, marking Indonesia’s win in the WTO on the steel trade case with the EU.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso hailed the WTO’s decision as a significant achievement for Indonesia’s export interests, calling it a positive signal for the continuation of stainless steel exports to European markets.

“Indonesia's victory in this dispute is a major milestone in securing market access for our stainless steel in the EU and other countries. We urge the EU to respect the WTO Panel’s decision and promptly remove the countervailing duties that have been deemed inconsistent with WTO rules,” Santoso said on Friday.

The minister also expressed hope that both sides could now shift their focus toward strengthening mutually beneficial economic cooperation. The ruling is detailed in the WTO Panel’s final report on case DS616: European Union – Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties on Stainless Steel Cold-Rolled Flat Products from Indonesia, released on October 2, 2025.

According to the report, the WTO Panel found that most of the EU’s actions related to countervailing duties (CVD) imposed on Indonesian stainless steel were inconsistent with WTO regulations, particularly the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement).

The panel concluded that Indonesia’s nickel export policy did not result in raw material prices for stainless steel production being set below fair market value. It also ruled that import duty exemption facilities for stainless steel raw materials in bonded zones were not considered illegal subsidies.

Additionally, the WTO found that financial support from Chinese companies or financial institutions to Indonesia’s stainless steel industry did not qualify as prohibited transnational subsidies.

Since November 17, 2021, the EU has imposed anti-dumping duties ranging from 10.2 percent to 20.2 percent on Indonesian stainless steel. These were later revised through EU Regulation 2022/433, effective March 15, 2022, with updated anti-dumping rates of 9.3 percent to 20.2 percent, and additional countervailing duties of up to 21.4 percent.

Indonesia formally filed a complaint against these measures with the WTO Dispute Settlement Body in February 2023.

Minister Santoso emphasized that the ruling recommends the EU adjust its trade policies by revoking the countervailing duties on Indonesian stainless steel products.

“The WTO Panel’s decision confirms that the EU’s accusations were unsubstantiated. The Indonesian government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of this ruling, so that Indonesia’s stainless steel products can enjoy improved market access in the EU,” Santoso added.



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Translator: Maria Cicilia, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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