The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute over Indonesia’s complex import requirements for a number of agricultural products, including U.S. beef. The ruling is expected to open up significant new export opportunities for U.S. beef in the Indonesian market.
Thad Lively, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for trade access, explains that Indonesia’s import restrictions were originally aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in beef production but actually resulted in tight beef supplies and high prices for consumers. He notes that the ruling gives both U.S. exporters and Indonesian importers confidence that the market will remain open to U.S. beef, paving the way for significant growth.
Last year U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to Indonesia were 10,783 metric tons (mt) valued at $39.4 million, making it the ninth-largest export market for U.S. beef by volume and 15th-largest by value. Through September of this year, exports to Indonesia already nearly matched last year’s totals, reaching 9,934 mt valued at $36.6 million. Indonesia is currently the third-largest export market for U.S. beef hearts, following Mexico and Hong Kong.
Source: usmef.org