Indonesia Relaxes Import Regulations Following US Complaint

Indonesia has eased restrictions on some agricultural imports after the United States complained to the World Trade Organisation over Jakarta’s “opaque and complex” rules, the trade ministry said.

The US first raised the issue with the trade body in January, citing Indonesia’s “broad use of import licensing measures that restrict imports” on a range of agricultural products.

It criticised the licensing system, which came into force last year, as “opaque and complex”, saying it was inconsistent with Indonesia’s WTO obligations and was having an impact on US exports to the country.

Last month Indonesia rejected a US request for the creation of a WTO panel to settle the dispute but late Wednesday the trade ministry said it had eased the restrictions.