Multilateral Trade

The World Trade Organization (WTO) established in 1995 and Fiji acceded to the WTO on 14 January 1996, and is a member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since 16 November 1993. The aim of the WTO is to promote the principle of non–discrimination, liberalisation of trade and reduction or elimination of non-trade barriers through its systems and procedures.

Fiji as an active member continues to adhere and promote these principles. To ensure full participation and enhance its representation at the multilateral level, Fiji established a diplomatic mission in Geneva, Switzerland.

The third review of the trade policies and practices of Fiji took place in February 2016. Trade Policy Reviews are mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries’ trade and trade policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. Fiji’s fourth trade policy review will take place in 2023.

Fiji is a member of the following groups in the WTO negotiations:

1. African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP);

with preferences in the European Union.
Issues: Agricultural preferences

      2. Group of 90 (G-90);

African Group + ACP + least-developed countries
Issues: General

      3. Small, vulnerable economies (SVEs);

Group of developing countries seeking flexibilities and enhanced special and differential treatment for small, vulnerable economies in the negotiations.
Issues: General

      4. “W52” sponsors; and

Sponsors of TN/C/W/52, a proposal for “modalities” in negotiations on geographical indications and “disclosure”. The list includes groups: the European Union (EU), ACP and African Group.
Issues: Intellectual property (TRIPS)

      5. “W52” sponsors; and

Developing Country Members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
Issues: General
Nature: Geographical

Click Here to View Fiji’s WTO Member Profile.

Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

The negotiations on the TFA, which simplifies, modernises and harmonises the export and import processes, concluded at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference.The TFA entered into force on 22 February 2017, following its ratification by two-thirds of the WTO membership. Fiji ratified the TFA in May 2017, and is currently implementing the agreement through the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC).

The NTFC is an important platform for the institutional coordination and stakeholders’ consultation with balanced private and public sector participation. The NTFC enables the planning and implementation of successful trade facilitation reforms and the implementation of the WTO’s TFA. In Fiji, the NTFC is Co-chaired by the Chief Executive Officer for Fiji Revenue and Customs Services and the Fiji Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders Council. The Committee comprises border agencies, private sector, development partners and civil society.

The TFA is aimed at:

• expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit;
• harmonising the processes and standards;
• making information on rules and procedures available;
• providing opportunities for consultations and appeals;
• creating a platform for automation and e-services; and
• providing assistance for implementation (provisions for technical assistance and capacity building)

Click Here to View the TFA.

2005 Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement

The WTO approved changes to the WTO’s intellectual property (TRIPS) agreement in 2005, in order to make permanent a decision on patents and public health originally adopted in 2003. This was formally built into the TRIPS Agreement after acceptance of the Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement by two thirds of the WTO’s members. The amendment took effect on 23 January 2017 and replaced the 2003 waiver for members who have accepted the amendment. Fiji accepted the Protocol on 1 May 2017.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is a United States-led initiative that includes Fiji and 12 other partner countries, namely, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. The IPEF partners represent 40 percent of global Gross Domestic Product.

The IPEF was launched in May 2022, in Tokyo, Japan, and aims to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness of partner countries.

The Framework will focus on four key pillars to deepen economic cooperation and engagement among IPEF partner countries: 1) Trade, 2) Supply Chains, 3) Clean Economy and 4) Fair Economy. Following the launch of the IPEF, the partner countries engaged in a series of rigorous discussions to shape the Ministerial Statements for the four respective Pillars.

Fiji was represented by the Minister of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Hon. Faiyaz Koya, at the launch of the four IPEF Ministerial Statements in September 2022, in Los Angeles, United States. The Ministerial Statements, which will form the basis for negotiations, set high quality and ambitious goals for a new type of trade agreement to promote economic integration of the IPEF members, unlock enormous economic gains, and deliver tangible benefits for all our peoples.

The IPEF Ministerial Statement recognises the different levels of economic development and capacity constraints of IPEF member countries and makes technical assistance and capacity building an integral part of the IPEF. The Ministerial Statements also acknowledge and seek to address the challenges linked with maritime connectivity critical to Fiji.

The four IPEF Ministerial statements can be found on the links below:

1. Pillar I – Trade

The Trade Pillar will build upon the Agreements of the World Trade Organization to advance broad objectives that generate investments and promote resilient, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development, which will benefit all sectors of society, including micro small and medium enterprises. The Trade Pillar will pursue provisions and initiatives in relation to labour, environment, digital economy, agriculture, transparency and good regulatory practices, competition policy, trade facilitation, inclusivity, and technical assistance and economic cooperation. The Trade Pillar does not include market access commitments for tariff liberalisation, but will consist of commitments to reduce non-tariff barriers and enhance standards to boost trade and investment flows in the region.

2. Pillar II – Supply Chain

In the Supply Chains Pillar, the countries will seek to coordinate actions to mitigate and prevent future supply chain disruptions and secure critical sectors and key products. The IPEF partners will identify sectors and products critical to national security, economic resilience, and the health and safety of their citizens, and pursue initiatives to increase resilience in these sectors collectively. Partners will also identify choke points in critical supply chains and work to address them by promoting and supporting investments in new physical and digital infrastructure. The IPEF aims to provide workforce development to upskill workers and build capabilities of micro, small and medium enterprises to increase supply chain resiliency. In addition, partners will seek to ensure compliance with national labour laws and promote international labour rights.

3. Pillar III – Clean Economy

The Clean Economy Pillar aims to accelerate efforts to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security and support efforts for climate change resilience and adaptation, in line with the Paris Agreement goals and initiatives. The partners will advance cooperation on research, development, availability and accessibility of clean energy and climate friendly technologies. The partners also seek to promote just transitions with the active participation of our stakeholders, including the private sector, workers, and local communities.

4. Pillar IV – Fair Economy

The Fair Economy Pillar aims to create a fair environment for businesses and workers within partner countries by preventing and combatting corruption, curbing tax evasion, and enhancing transparency, recognizing the importance of fairness, inclusiveness, the rule of law, accountability and transparency. By innovating and strengthening shared approaches to implementing anticorruption and tax measures, the IPEF partners will seek to improve the investment climate and boost flows of commerce, trade, and investments among our economies while advancing a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.