The European Union has filed an appeal against a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling, challenging its decision to impose tariffs on Indonesian stainless steel products. The appeal, submitted on Monday, effectively halts the ruling issued by the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body last month. This ruling found the EU guilty of errors in calculating subsidies, which violated the SCM Agreement, a WTO accord governing government subsidies and countermeasures. The EU's decision to appeal is significant because the WTO's appeals body has been non-functional since 2019 due to a dispute between the United States and the EU over the appointment of judges. This leaves the EU with limited options, as the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), an alternative appellate process, has not been utilized by Indonesia, which is a key party in the dispute. The EU's appeal could potentially block Indonesia's ability to seek financial compensation for the alleged illegal activities. Indonesia has criticized the EU's move, calling it 'appalling', while the EU argues that it has no choice but to appeal due to the legal errors in the panel's ruling.
