China contemplating WTO case against Indonesia resulting in bauxite ban: Joko Widodo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has stated that the government is prepared to respond should any countries seek legal action against the ban on bauxite exports implemented earlier this month.

Joko Widodo announced on December 20, 2022, that the nation would ban bauxite exports, the primary ore source of aluminium, starting from June 2023 to boost the domestic processing of the material. The Indonesian government took this action to encourage the domestic aluminium industry.

On June 18, 2023, the President said, "China, Indonesia's biggest bauxite importer, may file a complaint against Jakarta at the World Trade Organization (WTO)."

 "If anyone sues us, we'll face it. Please, let's not act like a small country. Indonesia is a big country. A big country shouldn't be gutless when getting sued, don't be ridiculous."

However, bauxite miners have once more pleaded with the Indonesian government to rethink the policy since domestic facilities are insufficient to process their output. Indonesia, one of world's leading bauxite producer, has halted bauxite shipments from June 10, 2023, as part of a 2020 law prohibiting all metal ores exports to spur investment in refineries.