WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/89 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6081) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
FIJI 
 
Statement by the Honourable Kaliopate Tavola
 
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade  
   On behalf of my delegation, allow me to al so warmly congratulate you, Hon. Tsang, as 
Chairperson of the Sixth Session of the WTO Minister ial Conference.  My delegation is confident that 
under your able leadership and guidance, the C onference outcomes will propel the Doha Agenda 
closer to conclusion.  I also take this opport unity to thank the Government and the people of 
Hong Kong, China for the warm hospitality that we have enjoyed since we arrived in this beautiful 
and dynamic city.   As we gather this week, we cannot be ob livious to the increasing global skepticism a bout the 
outcomes of the Doha Development Agenda.  Many fear that the development motive of the Doha 
Round has been superimposed by the purely comm ercial motive of opening new markets for the 
goods and services of the transnational corporations.  Such speculation should inspire us towards 
greater transparency and inclusivity in our consulta tion processes so that all our stakeholders are kept 
accurately informed of the progress of the negotiations and the emerging outcomes. 
 
 As we ignore the voices of the protesters, have we truly heard their mess age?  I refer not only 
to those demonstrators at this Conference venue , but also the millions around the world who are 
crying at the overall injustice resulting from the unfai r rules of the current multilateral trading system 
and the hypocrisy of the advanced economies in condoni ng them.  Can we truly say that we are aware 
of the plight of the poor in the developing world?  Do we care sufficiently to take genuine steps that 
will mitigate against the socio economic disrup tions of job losses upon business shutdown?  Or 
substitute the government revenue losses through tariff reductions? 
  The Uruguay Round promised much to developi ng countries.  Yet experience thus far has 
proven beyond doubt that the benefits of free trad e are confined to the more competitive players.  
Amongst the leading factors has been the uniform a pplication of rules irrespective of the differing 
levels of development.  Global averages are mislead ing, because despite rising welfare in a handful of 
developing countries that might have resulted fro m trade liberalization, many more developing 
countries have been losers.  Many do not even ha ve the capacity to extract benefits from existing 
preferences, let alone exploit new trading opportunities. 
 
 I reaffirm Fiji's commitment to one of the major intended outcomes of the DDA of improved 
rules and market access for all developing countries  in general, and quot a-free and duty-free access 
for LDCs in particular.   The smallness and insularity of island ec onomies, high dependence on a few tradeable goods, 
geographical isolation from markets, and con sequently the difficulties in attracting foreign 
investment, together exacerbate the trading outlook for countries like Fiji.  The cumulative impact of 
these challenges is common to all small and vulne rable economies.  We are optimistic that the WT/MIN(05)/ST/89 
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 outcomes of this Ministerial Conference on the Small Economies Work Progr amme will define the 
way forward in truly integrating small vulnerabl e economics into the multilateral trading system. 
  For us, as negotiators, the overall success of the Doha Round would ultimately be measured 
in the results that international trade will demons trably deliver as a vehicle for economic growth, 
sustainable development and poverty reduction at a global level, by at least 2015, and thereafter.  In 
this way, we are all bound by the need to together  craft a framework that will guarantee flexibility at 
individual national level to exercise real options w ithin their policy space to maximize their returns. 
  In this sense, the sugar industry in Fiji is s till a real option, as is the banana industry in the 
Caribbean, cotton in Africa … providing as they do for the basic livelihood of millions who would 
otherwise suffer lives of abject poverty.  In a spir it of global citizenship, Me mbers must recognize that 
calls for the designation of special products a nd for the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) are 
driven by necessity, rather than greed, and by ad mission of the constraints that are inherent in 
developing countries.  Preferences are a developmen t tool that should be harmonized with the trade 
liberalization agenda if the wider membership of th e WTO is sincere in reconciling their diversities in 
trading capacities by allowing the less-endowed Members to graduate to the next level. 
  The challenge of addressing preference erosi on demand urgent and c oncerted actions to 
provide gradual adjustment and othe r transitional measures.  The creation of a "grant aid fund" within 
the WTO to assist affected countries  to manage the adverse impact of preference erosion could be one 
of the success benchmarks of the DDA. 
  In NAMA negotiations, Fiji recognizes the need for greater convergence on key issues.  Fiji's 
Uruguay Round tariff commitments of 45 per cent bindi ng coverage at an average rate of 40 per cent 
belies Fiji's open and liberal tariff regime, where a pplied rates on all lines are significantly lower.  The 
combination of full binding coverage and formul aic reductions within the ranges currently being 
discussed could well reduce Fiji's fiscal policy options  and ability to develop areas of export potential 
to naught.  De-industrializing developing countries is  certainly not the objective of this Round.  The 
concept of "less than full reciprocity" in accord ance with the Doha Mandate requires meaningful 
asymmetry in reduction commitments together with  commensurate flexibilities in binding coverage. 
 
 Similarly, in the negotiations on regional trading agreements under Article XXIV of the 
GATT, developing countries must not be obliged to undertake the same commitments as developed 
countries, particularly in sectors strategic to their development.   Fiji recognizes that the legitimacy of the WTO should not be called into question.  However, 
we firmly believe that the weak and vulnerable Memb ers must not be marginalized or sacrificed in the 
process because although we are small and vulnerabl e, we are also entitled to benefit from an 
equitable share in the available opportunities cr eated through international trade liberalization. 
  While the July Package singled out four key ar eas of negotiations, particularly agriculture and 
MAMA, we are mindful that no single issue can be seen in isolation without taking into account all 
other negotiating areas of the DDA.  It is imperativ e that the WTO Members adopt a package at this 
Ministerial Conference to effectively incorporate th e S&D treatment into the architecture of the WTO 
rules.  It is also important that in all areas of ne gotiation, the principle of "less than full reciprocity" is 
respected.  
 We also urge developed and more advanced Members to agree on a strong "Aid for Trade" 
package.  This is crucial to allow developing countries, especially the LDCs, to strengthen their 
institutional capability for trade policy crafting and their supply side capability for trade engagement 
in the global market.   WT/MIN(05)/ST/89 
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  Fiji warmly welcomes a Pacific neighbour, Tonga , into the WTO family.  We recognize that 
it has been a challenging process of accession for To nga, but hope nonetheless that having acceded as 
the 150th Member of the WTO, Tonga will now be able  to reap the benefits of the multilateral trading 
system.  
 In conclusion, Fiji maintains its commitmen t to the successful conclusion of the DDA Round 
of negotiations.  We are confident that with st rong political will, the DDA will succeed in delivering 
the promised dividends for all Members.  
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