AISI Statement on WTO Indonesia Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a ruling announced today by the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding a dispute brought by the EU challenging Indonesia’s ban on the export of nickel ore and its requirement that all nickel ore be processed domestically, AISI President and CEO Kevin Dempsey issued the following statement:

“AISI applauds the ruling by a WTO dispute resolution panel against the government of Indonesia’s ban on the export of nickel ore. This export restriction, together with a requirement that nickel ore be processed domestically in Indonesia, has distorted global markets for nickel ore — a key input in stainless steel production — to the detriment of steel producers in the United States and around the world. We call on Indonesia to end these trade-distorting policies immediately.

“AISI appreciates the active engagement by the U.S. government as a third party in this WTO dispute to challenge the Indonesian export ban, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with USTR to address the many other trade-distorting policies by governments around the world that are fueling the ongoing global overcapacity crisis in steel.

“Among the other significant unfair trade practices impacting American steel producers are China’s aggressive efforts to subsidize the building and operation of Chinese-owned steel mills through its Belt and Road Initiative. These cross-border subsidies are creating significant new export-oriented steel production throughout Southeast Asia that will produce steel with much higher carbon emissions than the clean steel produced in the United States. AISI is actively working with key members of Congress to press for legislation that will expand the tools available to American producers to challenge these injurious unfair trade practices which contribute to global overcapacity in steel.”

-#####-

Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace steelmakers, and associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.