August 24, 2025 | 09:10 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has announced that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a ruling supporting Indonesia's position on several key claims in a dispute with the European Union (EU). The case concerns the EU's imposition of countervailing duties on Indonesian biodiesel imports, a conflict that began in 2023.
Airlangga welcomed the ruling as a positive development. "This is good news for the advancement of Indonesia's key export commodity. The WTO panel supports Indonesia in its decision regarding the imposition of dumping duties on biodiesel in Europe," he stated at his office in Jakarta on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
In its decision, the WTO Panel recommended that the EU bring its measures into compliance with its obligations under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). The EU is a crucial market for Indonesian palm oil and biodiesel products.
According to Airlangga, the WTO ruling will also help ensure fair market access for Indonesia's key exports. The Indonesian government is now awaiting the EU's response to the ruling. "We, Indonesia, are just waiting to see how the European Union responds to the WTO Panel's decision," he added.
CPTPP and Automotive Exports
Airlangga also stated that Indonesia is currently exploring joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He believes this agreement could open up export access to new markets, particularly for automotive products in Mexico.
"Mexico has set a quota, but the quota is very small, only 70,000. In reality, our automotive exports could exceed 400,000, but various countries have erected barriers. This is what we must resolve," he explained.
Indonesia's Stable Economic Growth
Airlangga claimed that Indonesia has been able to maintain a stable economic growth of 5 percent. In the second quarter of 2025, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that the economy grew by 5.12 percent year-on-year.
He asserted that this consistent performance makes Indonesia a leader in the Southeast Asian region. "No other country has consistently grown 5 percent. ASEAN leaders always look to Indonesia. Indonesia is a point of reference," he said.
Previously, Airlangga noted that Indonesia's economy is currently only behind China's, which is growing at 5.2 percent. In comparison, other ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Singapore are growing at 4.50 percent and 4.30 percent, respectively, while the United States is at 2.00 percent.
He also dismissed allegations of data manipulation, addressing doubts raised by some parties regarding the BPS's economic growth data for the second quarter of 2025.
Furthermore, Airlangga stated that Indonesia's investment realization in the first half of 2025 reached Rp942.9 trillion. He claimed this strong investment performance is directly correlated with the nation's low economic growth and inflation rates.
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