Fiji's private sector is warning of severe repercussions to the economy if trade between the country and its two major regional partners, Australia and New Zealand, is disrupted.
The Fiji Times reports that the warning follows a threat by the military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, to take "retaliatory measures" against the two countries for, among other things, imposing travel bans on people linked to the interim administration.
The president of the Fiji Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council, Ramesh Solanki, says the industry uses Australian textiles and raw materials and relies heavily on Australia and New Zealand for its exports.
He says sanctions would mean the collapse of the industry and the immediate loss of its remaining 8,000 jobs.
Mr Solanki says Fiji's trade relations with Australia and New Zealand are important and Fiji is just as important to them.
Mr Solanki says the only way forward is for all parties to cooperate and reach a workable solution.
Australia and New Zealand together export goods and services to Fiji worth over 920-million US dollars a year. END
