Vanuatu's deputy prime minister and minister of trade, Ham Lini, says joining the World Trade Organisation is a good thing for the country and the people must support it.
The minister's stand comes as the Vanuatu Christian Council says the country does not need membership of the WTO to survive.
But Mr Lini says it is vital that Vanuatu join because people need a regulatory regime if they're to participate fully in the modern trading environment.