Agricultural News
WTO Rules in Favor of US Claims Against Indonesia Giving US a Chance to Grow Its Market Share
Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:50:55 CST
The US beef industry has had some big wins in recent months, in and around the Pacific Rim, with gains in China, Korea and other countries. This week, it had another win, as the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the US in a dispute with Indonesia over its complex and opaque import requirements for beef and beef products. All 18 of Indonesia's import measures contested by the US were found by the WTO to be inconsistent with the nation's trade obligations. Thad Lively, senior vice president of trade access for the US Meat Export Federation, says he expects this ruling to open up considerable opportunity in the region.
"This is an important win for the US and this is one of those cases that was really well suited to take to the WTO, because Indonesia has in place a number of import restrictions that are pretty clearly inconsistent with what the rules of the WTO say."
Lively says this situation was primarily driven by the fact that Indonesia had policy at times to pursue self-sufficiency in beef production. The reality of that happening is very unlikely and that is becoming increasingly apparent. Lively says this mediation comes at a good time when Indonesia is making considerations on how to meet its consumption needs. Currently, Indonesia is the ninth largest export destination for the US in terms of volume; fifteenth by value. With these restrictions now lifted, Lively says he is excited about the opportunities ahead.
"It should open up opportunities in Indonesia, like we've never seen," he said. "Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world by population, but if you look at their per capita beef consumption, it's really quite small. To us that says there's huge potential for the United States beef industry."
Listen to Thad Lively of the USMEF speak to the opportunities ahead in the Indonesian market, with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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