PACER Plus will not serve the interests of Fiji businesses

Any agreement that excludes a vital regional economy such as the Fijian economy will be an ineffective instrument for trade and development in the region.

This is what Attorney General and Minister for Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told the Pacific Regional Business Conference in Nadi this morning.

Sayed-Khaiyum said that such agreement is not beneficial and opportunities will also be limited.

He told the PACER parties that there is no point negotiating trade agreements only for the sake of negotiating a trade agreement.

He said Fiji was illegally excluded and has chosen not to participate in these negotiations and it cannot accept that it would be asked to accede, or to join negotiations at an advanced stage without having a say on all aspects of the package.

Sayed-Khaiyum said without Fiji’s regulators, policy-makers and negotiators have being involved in the entire process of PACER Plus negotiations and the Fiji government can safely assume that this agreement will not serve the interests of Fijian businesses or the Fijian people.

The conference was held at the Radisson Resort.


Story by: Sneh Chaudhry