GENEVA — A US ban on Chinese poultry has been ruled as illegal by the World Trade Organization. This move gives Beijing a win in the first international commerce ruling against the administration of President Barack Obama, relays The Associated Press. According to the WTO decision, the US was violating a number of its trade obligations by preventing Chinese chicken parts from entering the US market.

The WTO can authorize sanctions against countries failing to comply with trade rules, but that usually takes years of litigation. Washington can appeal the 184-page verdict handed down on Sept. 29.