section_path: Trade conflicts by country/Oceania/Fiji
section_name: Fiji
paragraph_text: Fiji
  
  On February 4, 2025, Fiji's Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, said that, while it was premature to determine the effects on Fiji as a result of the 25% tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China, there were concerns that this was the first step toward a global trade war that would also engulf Fiji, fearing that Fiji could become one of Trump's future targets. However, on February 19, 2025, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad suggested that the tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China will not affect Fiji, and might instead bring benefits to Fiji, saying that "countries like Fiji could see cheaper goods flowing through the Pacific as these nations look to offload excess capacity". Prasad added three days later that Fiji's economic fundamentals had improved during the last two years and affirmed that the administration did not see any immediate risks that may disrupt its economic prospects. Even so, Fijian analysts continued to speculate that the increased price of imported aluminum and steel could impact the Fijian economy.
  
  On April 2, Trump announced "reciprocal tariffs" on Fiji amounting to 32%, despite the Fijian government imposing less than 2% import duties on average on all U.S. imports. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka admitted that his government was not ready for Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' and was caught by surprise. Regarding his possible plans, he said that, "The world is bigger than the United States" and that Fiji would have to look at new sources of imports and new markets for their exports. The immediate effects of such tariffs hit products such as Fiji Water, kava, dalo and turmeric, which are amongst the biggest exported products from Fiji towards the USA. Fiji's Finance Minister said that the 32 percent tariff by the Trump Administration – the highest in the Pacific – is unfair, while a government spokesperson said he did not understand how the region threatens the American economy. On April 10, 2025, following Trump's "walk back", Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Kamikamica announced that a meeting with United States Trade Representatives was set to happen the following week.
  
  On May 11, 2025, Fiji was confirmed to be amongst the list of nations that the U.S. would engage talks regarding tariffs with. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica stated that Fiji was committed to working with the USA on the tariff negotiations and achieve a win-win outcome for both countries.