World Trade Organization appeals body on Thursday ruled in favor of the United States and New Zealand in a dispute with Indonesia

A World Trade Organization appeals body on Thursday ruled in favor of the United States and New Zealand in a dispute with Indonesia over import requirements for agricultural products including beef and poultry, a decision that industry groups see as a big win for U.S. exporters.“As the fourth most populous country in the world, the Indonesian market is one with great potential for the meat and poultry industry,” North American Meat Institute (NAMI) President and CEO Barry Carpenter said in a news release.A WTO panel in December agreed with the United States and New Zealand, which jointly challenged Indonesia’s trade restrictions. Indonesia appealed the decision earlier this year. The WTO appellate body’s ruling is the final step in the dispute resolution process, according to NAMI and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).Beef marketUSMEF said the ruling is expected to open up significant new export opportunities for the U.S. beef industry in particular.“Today’s WTO report sets the stage for expansion of Indonesia’s beef market. We are excited about the opportunity to play a big part in its development by introducing U.S. beef to a much wider group of Indonesian customers,” USMEF CEO Philip Seng said in a statement.Last year, U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to Indonesia were 10,783 metric tons, valued at $39.4 million, making the country the United States’ ninth largest export market by volume and 15th largest by value, USMEF said. Through September of this year, exports to Indonesia were 9,934 metric tons valued at $36.6 million, marking a 96 percent increase from the first nine months of 2016 in volume and a 78 percent increase in value.Indonesia is currently the third largest export market for U.S. beef hearts, after Mexico and Hong Kong.