The decision to uplift the restriction on importation of PNG Made products into the Fiji market will be known in the coming weeks.
This followed a fact finding trip to Papua New Guinea approved by the Fiji Government concluded this week.
The delegation included Fiji Trade Commissioner to PNG Navitalai Tuivuniwai, Biosecurity Authority (BAF) of Fiji chief veterinarian Dr Sian Watson, BAF chief plant protection officer Nilesh Ami Chand, and BAF trade facilitation and compliance team leader Ronal Prasad.
After closed door discussions which started on Monday with their PNG counterparts from the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry, National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection, Department of Foreign Affairs, other relevant government organization the team inspected the manufacturers of Ox and Palm canned meat, Paradise Biscuits and Trukai Rice in Port Moresby and Lae.
The three products have been banned to be imported into Fiji in the last 12 years which got the ire of Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru who threatened to ban Fiji made products into the country if the Fiji Government does not explain the reason for the ban.
The Fiji Government have claimed the products do not meet its quarantine and biosecurity requirement.
When welcoming the Fiji delegation, Maru thanked the Fiji Government for approving the trip to solve the issue.
“The issue had been around for 12 years is a small issue an i expect both our teams to cooperate and work together for the next few days and I will do whatever on my part, including calling the CEOs of the companies concern to make sure that we get all the information that is required so you can complete the task given to you.
“This is our expectation and hope that over the next few days the so called impasse will be a thing of the past and we can move on to bigger MSG Trade agreement number three,” Maru said on Monday.
Meanwhile, a political scientist told Loop PNG that Fiji must lift the import ban on PNG Made products into its market to honour the Melanesian Spearhead Group bilateral agreement.
“Trade between or among countries is based on win-win situations. Trade reflects the competitiveness and comparative advantage of a country,” says Francis Hualupmomi, a political scientist and a PhD student in Public Policy in the School of Government at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
“And for this to take place and promote economic development and growth, free and open trade guided by rules of the game to ensure fair play is necessary.
“Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case for the trade relations between PNG and Fiji over certain issues.
“While Fiji may have a valid claim to restrict PNG products from entering its market, there is evidence that there is a significant imbalance of trade between the two countries, for almost a decade now,” Hualupmomi stated.
“If PNG can allow Fiji products into its market, this must be reciprocated. In so doing, it will allow for a win-win situation.
“PNG has a political right as a member of the MSG to demand Fiji to reciprocate. Fiji should honour the bilateral commitment between the two parties.”