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Indonesia to challenge trade dispute ruling favoring US, NZ
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World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo speaks during a press briefing on 2016 global trade forecast at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 7. (Keystone via AP/Martial Trezzini)
T
he government said on Friday that it would file an appeal against a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel ruling favoring New Zealand and the United States, both of which challenged Indonesia’s import restrictions on food and animal products, including beef and poultry.
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said Indonesia had deregulated such imports with the introduction of a number of economic policy packages over the past year. The deregulation, he added, had also addressed both countries’ concerns on its current import rules.
"We are now collecting the evidence and will file our appeal soon," Enggartiasto said on Friday.
(Read also: Tobacco farmers worry over WTO’s decision on Australia’s cigarette policy)
A WTO panel ruled on Thursday that all 18 of Jakarta’s measures affecting imported horticulture, animals and animal products were prohibited under WTO rules dating to its predecessor body, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
The import restrictions cover products such as apples, grapes, potatoes, onions, flowers, juice, dried fruit, cattle, chicken and beef, the US trade office said in March 2015 when challenging the measures.
According to the rule, Indonesia has 60 days to file an appeal or it would be considered to have accepted the decision. (hwa)
