JAKARTA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has arranged and prepared a lawsuit to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on U.S. high anti-dumping tariff against bio-diesel imports from Indonesia, a senior trade official said.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) added more duties on the already steep anti-dumping tariff and countervailing duty on biodiesel import from Indonesia to between 126.97 to 341.38 percent on April 9, essentially making it almost impossible for the Indonesian bio-diesel product to enter the U.S. market, according to the trade ministry.
Trade Director for Security of the ministry Pradnyawati Pambagyo said that Indonesian exporter companies have submitted the appeal to the U.S. court and now the Indonesian government and the firms are waiting for the decision of the U.S. court.
The ministry will also file a lawsuit to the WTO if the court decision remains seriously harming Indonesia's bio-diesel shipments to the United States, according to the official.
"Basically, the government and the companies are ready to seek justice to the highest level," Pradnyawati was quoted by Kontan media as saying.
Export of Indonesia's bio-diesel grew 47.31 percent on average from 2014 to 2016, according to the ministry.
"At present, there is no more exports of bio-diesel to the United States," said Pradnyawati.
Indonesia won a bio-diesel dispute against the European Union at the World Trade Organization, leading the EU to abolish its anti-dumping tariff on Indonesian biodiesel export to the bloc on March 16, according to director of foreign trade of the Indonesian trade ministry Oke Nurwan.
The Southeast Asia's biggest economy is the world's largest producer of crude palm oil with the country's palm oil plantation reaching 14.03 million hectares.
