Japan threatens WTO action over Indonesia nickel ban
While preferring to negotiate, the world's second largest nickel user Japan has threatened to take Indonesia to the WTO over its mineral exports ban if talks break down, Seatrade Asia online reports.
Japan is opposed to Indonesia's proposal for a complete ban by 2014 and Takayuki Ueda, director general of the manufacturing industries bureau of Japan’s trade ministry, was quoted as saying that they would consider complaining to the global trade body.
Japan is prepared to work with Indonesia to develop its domestic industries to enable higher value added processing before export, he added. However Ueda reiterated that cooperation was paramount and it was not Japan's aim to confront Indonesia over this issue.