WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/54
10December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5167)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Original: English
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
FIJI
Statement bytheHonourable Mr.Isimeli Bose
Minister forCommerce, Industry, Trade andPublic Enterprises
MayI,likethose ofmycolleagues before me,joininthanking andexpressing ourgratitude
andappreciation totheGovernment andpeople oftheRepublic ofSingapore fortheirhospitality and
thetypical efficient manner intheirorganization, tomake thisfirstWTO Ministerial Conference a
trulyremarkable andmemorable one.
MayIalsothank theDirector-General andother Member countries fortheirreassurance,
undertaking andcommitments thattheWTO willtakecognizance oftheplight, problems andissues
oftheleastdeveloped, andparticularly thesmall island developing countries oftheworld.
Forthose ofusinthemicro andtinyisland States oftheSouth Pacific andindeed theworld
over, thiscomes asabreath offresh airandhasgiven usasighofrelief andasense ofconfidence
thatwe,thesmall andvulnerable island economies, willnotbemarginalized orforgotten.
Forus,thetaskofrestructuring ourinstitutions andreorienting ourpriorities, andindeed our
vision forthefuture, willbeachallenging onenotonlyinterms ofcosts butindeed interms ofour
verysurvival.
Fiji,anisland Stateofthree quarters ofamillion population, recognizes thatitspotential for
agreater economic growth liesinamultilateral trading system thatisnon-protectionist, fair,and
transparent. Trade liberalization isvitalinasituation suchaswearefacing today, where global
economic andpolitical situations arechanging quickly, andnewcompetitors andmarket opportunities
arecontinuously emerging.
Fiji,initsendeavour tobepartofaliberalized andfairer multilateral trading system, has
attempted toaddress theimportant basic principles embodied intheWTO Agreement. Wehave
introduced transparency bygradually reducing ourtariffbarriers, removed mostlicences andsubsidies,
andhavebegun tomake policy changes thatwilloffernon-discriminatory trade practices topotential
investors.
Wehaveimplemented allthesechanges within theconfines ofourlimited andrestricted financial
andmanpower resources. These limitations have affected ourtimely compliance withourWTO
obligations.
Limited natural resources, small labour force, geographical fragmentation, remoteness from
major markets andsusceptibility tonatural disasters suchasflooding andhurricanes aretypical features
ofmost islands intheSouth Pacific region. Moreover, oureconomies aredependent, forforeign
./.WT/MIN(96)/ST/54
Page2
exchange, ononeortwomajor commodities thataresoldunder preferential trade arrangements, and
onlyacouple ofmajor industries provide thebulkofourdomestic employment.
Ourtradepreferences areeroding withthegradual dismantling ofpreferential tradeagreements.
Thisisarealthreat tooursurvival. Weareexploring alternative strategies tosecure foreign exchange
earnings withminimum social disruptions, butthiswilltaketimeforadjustments.
Therefore, atthisstage, werecognize thefactthatwestillcannot efficiently tradeontheglobal
market place without preferences. Time isneeded toeffectively restructure ourindustry inorder to
create anefficient andglobally competitive industrial base.
Iwould liketoinform thisaugust bodythatthenature ofthemicro-economy island Statethat
Irepresent, andtherestrictive influences itimposes ontherange ofdecisions andoptions we,asleaders,
havetomake, areindeed overwhelming.
Wearetoldinaforum suchasthis,thatweareallequal andwehavealevelplaying field.
However, when Iconsider myinability toinfluence opinion, tomobilize razor-sharp executives who
lobby convincingly onourbehalf, tostage-manage events astheyunfold, andmylackofauthority
toinfluence thedebate, thenIrealize thatthere isnolevelplaying fieldintrade, andsome areindeed
more equal thanothers.
Fijineeds bothfinancial andtechnical manpower resources toincrease itsinstitutional capacity,
including theestablishment ofFiji'srepresentation inGeneva, toimplement WTO obligations, take
advantage ofopportunities, andanalyse theimpact ofthose changes onthewelfare ofourpeople.
Wefinditextremely difficult even toimplement ourcurrent obligations under the
WTO Agreement, andthebuilt-in agenda agreed toinMarrakesh. Weareinthemidst ofmodifying
ourCustoms Valuation System. ThenewCustoms Valuation Laws areattheBillstage. Wewill
havetoharmonize tonewsystems ofsanitary andphytosanitary measures, andtonewrulesoforigin.
Wehavetoreorient ourpolicies andprocedures toaccount forthecomplex andtechnical provisions
onanti-dumping, onsubsidies andcountervailing measures, ontechnical barriers totrade, andsafeguard
measures. Allourefforts should bedirected atmaking theprovisions ofthisAgreement work, and
work effectively.
Iamparticularly concerned thatwhilst Fijiisstillstruggling withtheimplementation ofthe
current obligations, attempts arealready being made tolinkinseveral newissues totheWTO.
Furthermore, debate onthese issues seems tobedivisive along North-South lines. Theeight
previous rounds ofnegotiations haveworked sohardtoachieve thesolidarity ofthemultilateral trading
system. Letusfinish ourcommitments first.
Fijilooks tothemultilateral trading system touphold andvoice ourrights asanequal partner
withdeveloped economies. Wetherefore needtimeandassistance toputinplace thebasic industrial
andlegalstructures thatwillfacilitate ourintegration intothemultilateral trading system, before new
issues areintroduced.
Ishould liketoendwithacaveat. Inourcollective enthusiasm forcreating anewworld trading
system, weruntheriskofforgetting onevitalfactor. Trade development isallabout people.
Inconclusion, webelieve inmultilateralism. However, trade liberalization requires prudent
economic policies andindustrial restructuring, andthisrequires time, particularly forisland nations
likemine. Weneedassistance andmydelegation looks forward toourdeveloped partners andthe
WTO Secretariat forsuchassistance tohelpusfulfil ourcommitments under theWTO.