On Friday 26 September, the European Union announced that it would appeal against the World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel’s decision to invalidate its countervailing duty on Indonesian biodiesel (see EUROPE 13694/17). When the conclusion of the EU/Indonesia trade agreement negotiations was announced last week (see EUROPE 13715/15), the European Commission gave assurances that it would continue to defend its interests at the WTO, regardless of the trade talks.
However, as the WTO's Appellate Body has not been in operation for several years, this appeal will not be successful. An alternative appeal system (MPIA) exists, but Indonesia is not part of it, unlike the EU.
Jakarta described the EU’s decision as “regrettable”. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)