WT/MIN(24)/ST/114  
26 February  2024 
(24-1668) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY THE HON. MR MANOA KAMIKAMICA  
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE,  
CO-OPERATIVES,  SMES AND COMMUNICATIONS  
FIJI 
I bring to this 13th Ministerial Conference, the aspirations of the Fijian people, who, despite the trials 
and tribulations, rely on the interconnectedness of our global trade community and the rules that 
keep it functioning.  
The past two years have been marked by unprecedent ed global challenges, from the ongoing 
COVID -19 pandemic to supply chain disruptions that have reverberated across the world. These 
challenges have tested our resilience and underscored the importance of international cooperation 
and solidarity in addressi ng shared threats and advancing collective prosperity.  
Allow me to underscore the critical importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to small island 
developing states like Fiji. For us, the WTO serves as a vital platform to ensure fair and equitable  
trade rules are developed to foster sustainable development.  
As Fiji prepares to participate in the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, we reflect 
on the significant milestones we have achieved over the past two years.  
The time since MC12  has been a critical period for Fiji, marked by substantial progress in our trade 
policy agenda. In June 2023, Fiji successfully concluded its fourth trade policy review at the WTO. 
This review has provided valuable insights and recommendations for enhanci ng Fiji's trade policies 
and strategies to better serve our economy and people.  
During this time, Fiji also ratified the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, underscoring our 
dedication to sustainable fisheries management and the protection of our marine resources. This 
important commitment demonstrates the importance Fiji places in addressing challenges, such as 
overcapacity and overfishing, which threaten the livelihoods and food security of our coastal 
communities.  
Fiji recognizes the importance of mult ilateralism in addressing today's complex economic challenges. 
Hence, at MC13, we are committed to advancing Fiji’s, and collectively the Pacific’s, interests and 
priorities within the global trade arena. We will advocate for fair and inclusive trade polic ies that 
promote sustainable development and benefit all WTO members, particularly small island developing 
states like Fiji.  
Our primary focus at MC13 will be on fisheries subsidies and the urgent need to address overcapacity 
and overfishing, which threate n the sustainability of our marine resources and the livelihoods of our 
people.  
We must acknowledge and condemn the decades of subsidization from industrial fishing nations and 
fleets, which have perpetuated overfishing and depleted our precious marine res ources. It is 
imperative that any agreement reached at the WTO reflects the responsibility of those who have 
profited at the expense of fish stocks and developing country resource holders.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/114  
 
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  Therefore, Fiji will ask from its partners stronger disciplines on subsidies contributing to overfishing 
and overcapacity in the negotiations that has caused the global depletion of fish stocks. For us this 
is more than a matter of national interest - it is a matter of national survival.  
Additionally, Fiji will highlight  the importance of special and differential treatment for developing and 
least developed countries, including small island states, to ensure that trade policies take into 
account the specific challenges and vulnerabilities faced by these nations.  
We will a lso engage with our WTO counterparts to explore opportunities for enhancing market access 
for Fijian products, while advocating for measures to address non -tariff barriers that impede our 
exports.  
Fiji remains committed to the principles of transparency an d inclusivity in the WTO decision -making 
process. We will actively participate in discussions on WTO reform to strengthen the organization 
and ensure its relevance in addressing the evolving needs of the global trading system.  
We approach MC13 with a spiri t of cooperation and collaboration, seeking constructive outcomes 
that contribute to the collective goal of fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient global 
trading system.  
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