October 20, 2014

Brazil challenges Indonesia's chicken import ban

Brazil has filed a challenge against Indonesia's restrictions on Brazilian poultry meat imports, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The South American country recently asked the WTO if recent measures had prevented Brazilian chicken products from entering the Indonesian market.

Brazil claims that the restrictions violate several WTO rules, including the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Agreement on Agriculture, the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, and the Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspection.

Under WTO rules, Indonesia has 60 days to settle the issue, after which Brazil could request for a WTO-appointed panel to adjudicate the case.

Brazil's largest markets for frozen chicken cuts are Asian countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.

In 2013, the country exported US$7 billion worth of frozen chickens and chicken meat, with Indonesia importing only US$45,000 worth based on a database of global trade statistics maintained by the International Trade Centre, a UN-WTO joint venture.