Trade Ministry Rebuffs Rumors on Imminent Chicken Import Swarms from Brazil

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Trade Ministry's Director General of International Trade Negotiations, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, in a virtual press conference has denied rumors that Brazil's chicken meat products will potentially flood the Indonesian domestic market Indonesia lost to the South American country in a WTO dispute on poultry exports. 

“There is news that we will be flooded by poultry products from Brazil following the news reports on Indonesia’ loss at the WTO. That is simply untrue,” said Djatmiko in Jakarta on May 31. “They (Brazil) have no intention to change its policy until this dispute is truly resolved.”

He is implying that Indonesia has taken further steps following the WTO verdict by filing an appeal on chicken meat and poultry product import policy.

Djatmiko explained the appeal could not be processed yet as the judge that handled trade disputes in the WTO was currently vacant. He asserted that this situation was also causing a delayed process in Indonesia's appeal. 

The WTO has scheduled a state ministerial meeting in December 2021, with one of its agenda being collectively electing a judge for trade disputes. 

Moreover, Djatmiko insisted that Indonesia had not violated the principles of trade set by the WTO. One of the aspects challenged by Brazil is Indonesia’s health certificate overseeing the imports of chicken meat or poultry products. 

Read: IPB Expert Dissects Situation as Brazil Wins WTO Poultry Trade Lawsuit

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