USMEF Statement on U.S.-Indonesia Trade Framework

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released a joint statement from the U.S. and Indonesian governments on a framework for negotiating an agreement on reciprocal trade. More details are also in this White House fact sheet.  

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom released this statement: 

USMEF thanks USTR for its tireless efforts to negotiate a meaningful agreement with Indonesia, tackling many challenging issues. Indonesia is a market with incredible potential, in which the opportunity for U.S. beef is estimated at $250 million annually. But today, exports are minimal due to numerous trade barriers.

We are encouraged to see that the highlights detailed in the U.S.-Indonesia joint statement include resolving key issues such as import licensing, the commodity balance policy, and Indonesia’s onerous plant-by-plant approval process. For both U.S. beef and U.S. pork, these longstanding restrictions have limited exports to Indonesia. Indonesian importers and consumers are demanding U.S. red meat and we look forward to the swift conclusion of these negotiations and expanded export opportunities. 

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