Pacific and ACP Trade Ministers Convene Ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, participated in both the Pacific Trade Ministers’ briefing and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 March 2026. These meetings were held ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization, scheduled from 26 to 29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The WTO Ministerial Conference is the Organization’s highest decision-making body, bringing together trade ministers from across the membership to take decisions on global trade rules and the future direction of the multilateral trading system.

The Pacific Trade Ministers’ briefing brought together Ministers and senior officials to strengthen regional coordination and align priorities in advance of MC14. Facilitated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the briefing enabled Pacific WTO members including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to consolidate a collective stance on key trade issues.

Discussions focused on advancing meaningful reform of the multilateral trading system, strengthening transparency and inclusivity in negotiations, and ensuring that development remains at the centre of global trade discussions.

Building on this regional coordination, the ACP Trade Ministers Meeting adopted the ACP Group Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming the Group’s shared commitment to advancing development-oriented outcomes in the multilateral trading system.

During the ACP engagement, Hon. Ditoka also participated in an interactive discussion with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO. He underscored the importance of ensuring that WTO outcomes remain inclusive, development-oriented, and responsive to the needs of small and vulnerable economies, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Hon. Ditoka also highlighted Fiji’s key priorities in the lead-up to MC14, including advancing meaningful outcomes on fisheries subsidies, promoting inclusive approaches to e-commerce, and supporting practical and balanced WTO reform. He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to working constructively with all WTO Members to achieve outcomes that are fair, credible, and reflective of diverse development needs.

ACP Trade Ministers further reviewed progress and exchanged views on key negotiating areas including WTO reform, e-commerce, agriculture, and fisheries subsidies as part of preparations for MC14.

Fiji joined fellow ACP members in emphasising the importance of unity and collective engagement to ensure that development priorities remain at the centre of global trade discussions.