Countries do not need to apply for the standard GSP; the EU includes them or removes them from the relevant list by means of a delegated regulation. The EU may withdraw the standard GSP in exceptional circumstances, in particular serious and systematic violations of fundamental human rights and labour law conventions. Further information on the GSP trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/standard-gsp Fiji signed the interim EPA in 2009 to avoid market disruption of their exports and continued regional efforts to conclude comprehensive development-friendly and mutually beneficial EPA negotiations. Fiji did not initially ratify the interim EPO due to contentious issues such as the unavailability of development cooperation and the global supply of fresh, frozen and chilled tuna. The commitment to the process, Fiji in 2014 provisionally applied the interim EPA to avoid trade disruptions. Fiji is committed to regional efforts to swiftly conclude a comprehensive, development-friendly EPA that benefits both the PSPAs and the EU. Economic Partnership Agreements are trade and development agreements negotiated between the Pacific ACP States and the European Union. To date, Papua New Guinea and Fiji have signed and ratified interim EPAs, with Samoa and Solomon Islands intending to accede to them. The Economic Partnership Agreement can be found here.
Comprehensive Manual of Rules of Origin: (trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/economic-partnership-agreements-epas) The TFA contains provisions to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also establishes measures for effective cooperation between Customs and other competent authorities in trade facilitation and compliance. It also contains provisions on technical assistance and capacity-building in this area. The Pacific Islands Trade Agreement has been in force since 2007 to promote regional integration and achieve broader integration into the global economy. Eight countries operate under PICTA: The Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Nauru, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Tonga have not yet used the agreement. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) have not yet become Contracting Parties, while New Caledonia and French Polynesia may accede under Article 27 of the Agreement. The PICTA Protocol on Trade in Services (TIS) was concluded in 2012 and ratified by four signatories (Samoa, Tuvalu, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Nauru) but has not yet entered into force.
Ambassador Cella, member of the Council of Pacific Island States, said: “This is the right time for our two countries to establish a TIFA and expand our trade relationship as Fiji celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence last week. As a bridge builder, I look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to build closer trade and investment relationships under tiFA. On October 15, 2020, the United States signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Fiji. TIFA creates a platform on which the bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries can be further expanded and deepened. This is the first TIFA in the United States with a developing state in the Pacific and, under certain circumstances, provides an opportunity for other Pacific small island states to participate as observers in tifa discussions, helping to strengthen our economic engagement in the region and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Forum members are parties to subregional trade agreements, the most important of which is the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement between the 4 multi-stakeholder countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) and Micronesian trade and economic cooperation between the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. SUVA – U.S. Ambassador Joseph Cella today presided over a virtual signing ceremony to establish a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the United States of America and the Republic of Fiji. TIFA creates a platform on which the bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries can be further expanded and deepened.
In order to improve trade and economic cooperation with Fiji`s main trading partners, Fiji is a party to a number of trading blocs and trade agreements, including: The Everything But Arms programme grants all products (except arms and armaments) full and duty-free access to the EU`s internal market. A country receives EBA status if it is listed as least developed countries (LDCs) by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy. Countries are not required to apply for benefit under EBA, they are added or removed from the corresponding list by a delegated regulation. EBA preferences may be withdrawn in exceptional circumstances, in particular in the event of a serious and systematic breach of the principles set out in the fundamental conventions on human rights and labour law (see Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012). Further information on the EBA, trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/everything-arms the TAC, the United States and Fiji will be advised on various trade and investment issues. .
