Pacific integration and regional governance - Globalisation or self-inflicted wounds in the Fiji sugar and garment industries

Abstract

This article uses the specific cases of Fiji’s sugar and garments to elucidate the challenges of, and opportunities offered by, deepening trade between the Pacific island countries, and with the rest of the world. It is shown that the distress faced within the Fiji garment and sugar sectors is mainly due to domestic rather than external factors. Recent and ongoing changes to external conditions, particularly the multilateral liberalisation of trade, have worsened the predicament of these two sectors, however. The distinction is important since it provides the opportunity for the local leadership to redress many of the problems of adjustment and to capitalise on the opportunities offered by a more liberal global trading environment.