Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, said his Fijian counterpart misled the public when he said no official correspondence was received from the restriction on certain PNG goods.
Last week, the PNG Trade Minister said Fiji must respond in 14 days to why it restricts Trukai Rice, Snax biscuits and Ox and Palm to avoid retaliatory actions.
The trade imbalance between the two largest economy in the Pacific favours Fiji, with a deficit of K45 million.
"Fiji Trade Minister (Faiyaz Didiq Koya) lied to (Fiji) media that he never received a notice from us, when we wrote to him on August 15, 2016," Maru said yesterday.
He added that during the MSG meeting in Vanuatu, Fijians did not attend.
Maru said the Fiji Government only acknowledged the letter after he went public in the media regarding the ban.
Meanwhile, Fiji Times reported that the Fiji Trade Minister had admitted to receiving official correspondent from his PNG counterpart.
This is despite having denied in media reports this week of having no knowledge of such.
PNG Government will give its official stand on Fiji’s response next week, Maru said.