Kamikamica outlines Fiji trade hopes

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica says he is "hopeful" the tariff levied against key Fijian exports to the United States can be renegotiated as trade talks between the two nations continue. 

The US, Fiji's largest export market, initially imposed a 32 per cent "reciprocal" tariff in April before levying a 15 per cent tariff on Fijian goods effective this month.

Mr Kamikamica told reporters on Wednesday that Fiji is engaging with the U.S. on lowering current trade taxes even further on sought-after, niche products from Fiji, such as kava.

"One of the things that we have been discussing is the introduction of a zero-tariff list for all countries, and that means products or exports from a country that do not necessarily compete directly with the US. So for Fiji, it's a no-brainer - we've got yaqona, cassava, turmeric, and ginger. You can't reproduce that in the US," he said.

"I'm hopeful some of these products can be renegotiated further down to zero tariff.

"We'll keep looking at this and see whether we can progress further."

Public and private sector representatives from the EU and the Pacific region are expected to attend the Forum on September 4 and 5 in Nadi. 

'EU economy one of the world's largest'

Fiji is preparing to host the first-ever European Union (EU)-Pacific Business Forum in Nadi in just a few short weeks, bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, and investors from the EU and the Pacific to deepen trade and investment cooperation between the two regions.

Mr Kamikamica, says it would come at a time when Fiji-EU engagement had "intensified".

"Part of the reason why the engagement with the European Union has intensified is because Fiji signed the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU," the Deputy Prime Minister added.

"For some reason, the previous (Fiji) government didn't want to do that - I'm not sure why. As soon as we signed it, it allowed a different level of engagement."

Mr Kamikamica said the agreement allowed Fiji to explore critical trade and investment opportunities that would help support local industries, such as the fisheries and food processing sectors.

"The European Union economy is one of the largest economies in the world," he explained.

"We're looking forward to more investment-type opportunities in infrastructure, in terms of hotels and other areas of opportunity.

"What the government of Fiji has done is open doors into the European Union, and we'll certainly make sure that we will benefit."

Mr Kamikamica said that at least 200 public and private sector representatives from the EU and the Pacific region, including those from French Polynesia and New Caledonia, are expected to attend the Forum on September 4 and 5. 

Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj