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RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/330 19 January 2016

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RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/330 19 January 2016 RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/330 19 January 2016 (16-0354) Page: 1/106 Trade Policy Review Body TRADE POLICY REVIEW REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT FIJI This report, prepared for the third Trade Policy Review of Fiji, has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Fiji on its trade policies and practices. Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Ricardo Barba-Viniegra (tel: 022 739 5873); and Martha Lara Fernandez (tel: 022 739 6033). Document WT/TPR/G/330 contains the policy statement submitted by Fiji. Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Fiji. This report was drafted in English. WT/TPR/S/330 • Fiji - 2 - CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 6 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 11 1.1 Recent Developments ............................................................................................... 11 1.2 Trade Performance and Investment ............................................................................. 14 1.2.1 Trade in goods and services .................................................................................... 14 1.2.2 Foreign direct investment........................................................................................ 16 1.3 Outlook ................................................................................................................... 17 2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME ............................................................................ 18 2.1 General Institutional and Legal Framework ................................................................... 18 2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives ...................................................................... 18 2.3 Trade Agreements and Arrangements .......................................................................... 21 2.3.1 WTO .................................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2 Regional Trade Agreements ..................................................................................... 22 2.3.2.1 Other arrangements ............................................................................................ 24 2.3.3 Investment regime ................................................................................................ 24 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 28 3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports ............................................................................ 28 3.1.1 Customs procedures and requirements ..................................................................... 28 3.1.2 Customs valuation ................................................................................................. 29 3.1.3 Rules of origin ....................................................................................................... 29 3.1.4 Tariffs .................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.4.1 MFN applied tariff ................................................................................................ 29 3.1.4.2 Bound tariff ........................................................................................................ 32 3.1.4.3 Preferential tariff ................................................................................................. 34 3.1.4.4 Other taxes, duties and concessions ...................................................................... 34 3.1.5 Import prohibitions, and licensing ............................................................................ 36 3.1.6 Contingency trade measures ................................................................................... 38 3.1.7 Standards and other technical requirements .............................................................. 38 3.1.8 Labelling and marking ............................................................................................ 40 3.1.9 Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements .................................................................. 40 3.1.10 Trade-related investment measures ........................................................................ 41 3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Exports ............................................................................. 41 3.2.1 Export procedures and requirements ........................................................................ 41 3.2.2 Export duties ........................................................................................................ 41 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing ............................................................ 42 3.2.4 Export assistance and promotion .............................................................................. 43 3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade ..................................................................... 45 3.3.1 Incentives ............................................................................................................ 45 3.3.2 Competition policy, consumer protection, and price controls ......................................... 45 WT/TPR/S/330 • Fiji - 3 - 3.3.3 State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization............................................. 47 3.3.4 Government procurement ....................................................................................... 49 3.3.5 Intellectual property rights ...................................................................................... 52 3.3.5.1 Patents .............................................................................................................. 53 3.3.5.2 Trademarks ........................................................................................................ 53 3.3.5.3 Copyright ........................................................................................................... 54 4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ..................................................................................... 56 4.1 Agriculture .............................................................................................................. 56 4.1.1 Main features ........................................................................................................ 56 4.1.2 Policy objectives .................................................................................................... 56 4.1.3 Support measures.................................................................................................. 58 4.1.4 Sugar sector ......................................................................................................... 59 4.2 Fisheries ................................................................................................................. 60 4.2.1 Main features ........................................................................................................ 60 4.2.2 Policy and legal framework ...................................................................................... 61 4.3 Energy .................................................................................................................... 63 4.3.1 Electricity ............................................................................................................. 63 4.3.2 Hydrocarbons ........................................................................................................ 64 4.4 Manufacturing .......................................................................................................... 65 4.4.1 Overview and policy objectives ................................................................................ 65 4.4.2 The textile and clothing industry .............................................................................. 66 4.4.3 Food processing..................................................................................................... 67 4.4.4 Beverages ............................................................................................................ 67 4.5 Services .................................................................................................................. 67 4.5.1 Main features and GATS commitments ...................................................................... 67 4.5.2 Financial services ................................................................................................... 68 4.5.2.1 Banking ............................................................................................................. 70 4.5.2.2 Insurance .......................................................................................................... 71 4.5.2.3 Capital market .................................................................................................... 72 4.5.3 Telecommunications ............................................................................................... 74 4.5.4 Transport ............................................................................................................
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