U.S. steps up WTO dispute against Indonesia’s ag import restrictions

   The White House on Thursday requested new World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with Indonesia to address the Southeast Asian country’s import licensing restrictions on horticultural products, animals and animal products.
   The United States previously requested consultations on prior versions of Indonesia’s trade-restrictive measures. The United States is now asking for additional consultations to address recent modifications to Indonesia’s import licensing restrictions. New Zealand filed a similar request with the WTO.
   “Indonesia revised its import-licensing requirements in response to action by the United States at the WTO. Unfortunately, the revised system still appears to breach WTO rules and restrict U.S. agricultural exports,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in a statement.
   According to the U.S. government, Indonesia has adopted non-automatic, import-licensing requirements that impede imports of horticultural products, animals and animal products into Indonesia. The affected U.S. products include fruits, vegetables, flowers, dried fruits and vegetables, juices, cattle, beef, poultry, and other animal products.
   The United States previously requested consultations in January 2013 and August 2013 regarding prior versions of Indonesia’s import licensing restrictions. After the August 2013 request for consultations, Indonesia replaced and amended its import licensing measures. The United States said these changes, however, did not remove the WTO inconsistencies and introduced new restrictions.