WTO Rules in US's Favour Over Ag Exports to Indonesia

US - United States Trade Representative Michael Froman announced shortly before Christmas that a World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement panel has found in favour of the United States’ challenge to Indonesia’s wide-ranging restrictions and prohibitions on horticultural products, animals, and animal products.
calendar icon 3 January 2017
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The United States, working closely with New Zealand as co-complainant, filed this dispute to address trade barriers in Indonesia that restrict the importation of American fruits and vegetables (such as apples, grapes, and potatoes), animal products (such as beef and poultry), and other agricultural products.

The WTO Panel agreed with the United States on 18 out of 18 claims that Indonesia is applying import restrictions and prohibitions that are inconsistent with WTO rules.

“The Obama Administration has again prevailed on behalf of US farmers, ranchers, and businesses,” said Ambassador Froman.

“Today’s panel report will help eliminate unjustified trade restrictions on American agricultural products, allowing US farmers and ranchers to sell their high-quality products to customers in Indonesia – the fourth-most populous country in the world.”

“This is a slam dunk for American agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Since 2012, Indonesia has maintained an untenable import licensing program, harming the ability of U.S. producers to sell a wide range of American-grown products in the Indonesian market – from potatoes to beef to grapes to oranges to poultry. Importantly, the WTO Panel findings will discourage Indonesia from simply substituting new trade-distorting approaches for the measures repealed, restoring American farmers' and ranchers' ability to compete.”

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