Fiji's first technical draft offers to the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement have yet to receive the interim Government's endorsement, says Forum Secretariat consultant, Mere Falemaka.
Ousted foreign affairs minister Kaliopate Tavola could be called to lead the Pacific's Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) talks with the European Union.
Do the Pacific Islands' negotiators genuinely hope they can negotiate a beneficial Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union or are they simply going through the motions and doing what is required of them under the Cotonou Agreement 2000? In the secretive chess game of trade negotiations it is impossible to know.
Most of us are usually kept in the dark when it comes to assessing the impact of trade agreements signed by our government. But this should not be the trend because whatever agreements are signed by our leaders eventually affect us all.
Fiji's garment industry will face more problems if a free trade agreement (FTA) is signed between Australia and China, says Fiji Textile Clothing and Footwear President, Ramesh Solanki.