14 Sep 2005

Fiji not optimistic about WTO negotiations

7:06 am on 14 September 2005

Fiji is not optimistic that the current round of World Trade Organisation negotiations will produce a set of trade measures to provide real and effective market access to developing countries.

The Fiji Sun says this view has been expressed by the chief executive of Fiji's ministry of foreign affairs and external trade, Isikeli Mataitoga.

Mr Mataitoga says there has been little or no progress in areas of special interest to developing countries, especially the small and landlocked countries.

He says if developing countries like Fiji are to realise their potential in international trade, the main barriers to their exports need to be removed.

Mr Mataitoga says these include tariffs and taxes imposed by developed countries on imports from developing countries and the subsidies that developed countries provide to their domestic agricultural producers.