For weeks, even months, the world has known that Donald Trump intended to introduce wide-ranging tariffs to punish America’s trading partners for what he depicts as their ripoff of American consumers and their unfair advantage in the global marketplace.
The only question has been which countries would be hit hardest and by how much. So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone that the US would impose the highest tariffs on countries that impose the highest tariffs on its own good and services. And unfortunately for Fiji, it is one of them.
The government can argue all it likes about whether Washington’s calculation that Fiji imposes a 63 per cent tariff on American imports is accurate or fair as the Trump administration retaliates by imposing a 32 per cent tariff on Fiji. But that decision has already been made and it is highly improbable that President Trump will revisit it. Short, perhaps, of the government granting China a naval base in Fiji. On second thoughts, probably not a great idea.
In the case of Fiji Water – the nation’s biggest exporter to the US – its billionaire owners, Stewart and Faye Resnick, have long been financial donors to Donald Trump’s opponents in the Democratic Party, including throwing their financial weight behind Kamala Harris in her ill-fated attempt last November to prevent Trump’s return.
Question: Would Donald Trump be so petty that to get back at the Resnicks, he would be prepared to flush all Fijian exporters down the toilet? Think about it. The President is chronically blind to reason and notoriously vindictive. And if he is happy to throw the whole world into recession just to win points with his gun-toting “yee haw“, monster truck-driving electoral base, it is entirely possible.
“Hey Mr President! Guess what? Those less-than-wonderful people at the Wonderful Company are Fiji’s biggest exporters to the US!”
“Where?”
“You know, Fiji.”
“I thought that was the name of the water in the square bottle”.
“No, it’s also a country”.
“Oh, You mean those nasty Resnicks own the water? Go get ’em”.
Yes siree! Yee Haw!” *
What do you think, Fiji? With this guy in the White House, it isn’t so far fetched.
The really alarming thing is that for all the advance warning that tariffs were in the offing, the 32 per cent tariff on Fijian exports has come as such a shock to our politicians . And especially to those in charge of our external relationships…the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka – who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs – and the Minister for Trade, Manoa “I’ll work harder if you pay me more” Kamikamica.
Didn’t Fiji’s Ambassador to the US, Ilisoni Vuidreketi, give the PM the heads up? Isn’t that why we have a diplomatic service?
Oi, sorry eh? Vuidreketi isn’t a career diplomat but a failed SODELPA candidate. Which means he’d probably have trouble ordering a Big Mac.
Seriously. Australia’s Ambassador to the US is the former prime minister, Kevin Rudd. And for months, he has been lobbying the Trump administration to protect Australian exports, succeeding in keeping the US tariff on Australia to 10 per cent. What hope does Fiji have when our main guy in Washington is a sop to the lamest Coalition partner? A piece on the board when they divvied up the spoils of office?
The fact that this decision has come as such a shock to the Prime Minister and his Minister for Trade is shocking in itself. “Caught off guard”? “Found out about it on CNN?” Crikey. We pay you people and and your diplomats and civil servants to be across such things. And the fact that you have found out about it at the same time we did is deeply disturbing, quite apart from there being no plan to deal with the challenge.
Manoa Kamikamica says he is going to meet the US Ambassador in Suva, Marie Damour, to try to get the 32 per cent reviewed. But she is a career diplomat with the US State Department, not a Trump political appointment, and it is a completely pointless quest. As Donald Trump himself has said: “There will be no negotiations”.
Kamikamica comes across as naive at the best of times but if this is his sole strategy under the circumstances, we are in deep doo-doo across a broad front. Presumably he thought he had to say something. Anything, aside from telling Fijians not to panic.
Here’s the thing, Fiji. The Coalition have been so distracted with all their obsessions – restoring the Great Council of Chiefs, changing the 2013 Constitution, changing the electoral laws etc etc – that they have not only failed the most basic test of any government to deliver essential services. They have also become dangerously complacent to the genuine external challenges the nation faces and have no idea how to deal with them.
We have our leaders “shocked” (and the Editor of the Fiji Times predicting “interesting times ahead”). Yet as for a cogent plan to deal with a major threat to our exports and our ability to pay our way in the world, forget it.
Read today’s media coverage and despair. First, comprehensive coverage in the Fiji Sun.
Now the Fiji Times...
Good old Fred. Yee Haw!
SATURDAY UPDATE:
So why were our leaders “caught off guard” by the tariff announcement when it had been flagged for months? Because they’re incompetent, says Premila Kumar. Yep.
Incompetent lot sitting in all Fiji”s high com and trade posts overseas. Starting with the shit of a PM as head of MFAT. I have never seen a PM of a country to be MFAT lead but hey this is Viti.
Maybe they can get advice from their bushy former Minister for Women. She has experience in working in the US. Fiji media must ask for her feedback immediately. She is the chief scammer, after all.
While speaking about the tariffs on a CBS morning show in the States, one of Trump’s billionaire lackeys said this: “Foreign goods may become a little more expensive, but domestic goods do not. So if you’re looking at Poland Springs water vs Fiji Water, the Poland Springs is not gonna be more expensive. For the first time in your lives you’re gonna actually think about Americans who make the products.”
It’s absolutely not an accident that Fiji Water was called out. Everything about Trump is personal. The man will destroy the US (where I live) for the sake of vanity — and his own personal wealth.
President Trump is carrying out his manifesto for his electoral base.
Also it is his own country’s interests.
He got more than 60% of American votes which is a substantial number of Americans who voted for him.
He would not get that today, of that you can be sure.
Not surprised a Trump stooge has to lie — the convicted felon received 49.7% of the the popular vote in the 2024 election, 1.5% more than Biden.
Which has absolutely nothing to do with the damage he’s currently doing to both the world and the slow-witted electorate who voted for him. You think voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania expected Trump to call Canada a 51st state or openly lust for Greenland? He will be decimated in the 2026 midterm elections. Unless, of course, Putin’s lapdog destroys the US before then.
Same here in Fiji too, with our current PM.
Congrats to the yanks as they actually will reduce their foreign debt with the tariff tax windfall.
And poverty increase here will reduce Tang, Fanta, Coca-Cola and Sunkist consumption reversing Fiji’s diabetes epidemic.
After reading all of that, I can see a rise in overseas travel for ministers as they use the need to connect with other countries around the world to seek out trading partners and look for new places to export to, and a good excuse for a junket paid for by the long suffering Fijian taxpayers.
In the end the first class air travel will outweigh any benefits from new areas that the globe trotting ministers can trumpet as being willing to buy from a short list of items that Fiji produces and that these far flung countries might buy.
Another good excuse to have a nice trip to places that they wouldn’t have been able to travel to, without a ‘crisis’ to try and fix!
What was the rationale for the PM or his advisors not seeing a tariff coming – when it was as big as a freight train or indeed an Amtrak locomotive thundering down at you.
Did they think Trump’s administration would make special exemptions for Fiji, in tariffs and illegal immigrant deportations. Using Radrodro’s reasoning that Fiji stood with the USA at certain UN and ICJ voting so Fiji is a special case and shouldn’t get the same treatment as just about every other country in the world !
Maybe they thought Fiji was such a tiny player in the global scheme the big elephant would not see the tiny ant ?? Which of these wishful or no thinking at all is it.
I love your last comment on a certain newspaper, though I think it should be read as :
hee-haw
Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages :
the loud, harsh cry of a donkey or mule.
“the burros brayed in raucous stentorian hee-haws”
He’s correct. United States of America isn’t the superpower it once was. They think they are, but, they’re sadly mistaken. China has snatched that title away from them.
Rolex Rambo still has an ace card stuck behind that watch. Invite the Chinese to set up a naval base in Fiji. See if that doesn’t wake some people up in DC.
The Chinese don’t need a naval base in Fiji. They already have one earmarked for Kolombagara in the Solomons.
What China might be interested in is setting up a satellite tracking (read intelligence gathering) station in Fiji. That makes more sense.
Fiji is now open for more business with China. Break out the Dim Sims folks>
‘Off-guard’ is not a word Fiji can use for Trump’s tariffs. For its development was telegraphed and reported ad nauseam since he ascended to his second term. We were not conscientious and proactive enough. But that assumes that we had the wherewithal in the ability to think. Perhaps ignorance is apt. Sucked in big time.
Now we wait for the first reports of price increases around Fiji. And the reason for the increase…..sa its the tariffs.!!!!
FCCC will be busy soon.
Or cede Fiji to the USA to achieve the same status as Hawaii then declare a home for deports from Gaza. Rabuka and Trump can make money out of that, so it’s a sure deal, and they can do it as they both rule dictatorships.
OR, as we are the home of the lost tribe, invite the rest of the tribe.
They will be so welcome, no longer a hated vulagi in the land they steal and kill for, but bring mighty blessings from the God that speaks to Rolex.
Palestinians get their home back, minus nuclear weapons and the ME get to squabble amongst themselves without threat to humanity with Samson bringing the house down.
Haha! Ian’s on fire!
“Off guard” equates to dumb. Clueless. Idiots. Dunderheads as in, in over their heads.
The direct expected result of appointing kilavata, inept, incompetent, fake-till-you-make-it ‘ambassador’ in Washington DC, and low intellect wanna-be ‘high commissioners’ everyplace else. Sa back fire sara ga big time.
Legitimate questions to ask should include what is/was the role of Forum Secretariat? Aren’t the big shots there supposed to be plugged in to world affairs, especially being proactive to foresee and minimize negative impacts of the big boys trade policies? To prepare and advise regional member governments on possible reciprocal/retaliatory taxes?
And the SIDS Secretariat?
These regional groupings could’ve spoken as one voice to emphasize in detail with supporting data to highlight possible impacts big duty hikes would have on the already vulnerable tiny economies of Pacific island states. Such high damages based on price increases for all import-dependent small Pacific nations.
A big proportion of these islands economies do not have manufacturing industries, let alone economies of scale. Very few of these independent states have a middle class to speak of, nor do Pacific small states, largely dependent on imports have the huge volume buying power to negotiate better prices.
Sudden, big import tariffs increases coupled with similar export restrictions has the potential to decimate micro economies, further stymie growth potential, exacerbate social and economic problems. This is especially true for underdeveloped and already poor Pacifica communities.
For the Fijian government, the “captain rolex”was asleep at the wheel and the ship slammed into the reef.
Perhaps not the best analogy yet an apt one for dear old Fiji and its ship of fools that we have for a government.
With so many Missions based in Suva, you would think there could have been better coordination to try to mitigate the impacts of the loudly proclaimed drum beats of impending tariffs.
But no, we rely on CNN for government intel and trade and economic information to run our economy. How pathetic.
May as well shut down the taxpayer funded BS “trade office” in Los Angeles, if the purpose is to give the billionaire class a 7-year tax holiday, and to host cocktails only.
And what of the “brilliant economics professor?” A laughing stock if ever there was one for an “economy and finance” minister. The traitor should drown of shame. Regrettably, shame is not something the entire government is aware of. Nor intelligence. Being a smart ass with thinnest of skin does not make up for intelligence. The two characteristics are not the same thing.
The United States made some noise in when declaring its pivot to the Pacific initiative. The US and their Pacific lapdogs Australia and New Zealand-dominate Forum Secretariat proceedings and play big brothers to the hilt. They attend and actively participate in Pacific island states decision making progress processes as domineering overseers.
As fully developed wealthy first-world nations they justify this domination based on funding and being part of “the same” Pacific Ocean.
The trio of the 5-eyes generously fund the Forum and all its over paid bureaucrats, ‘diplomats’, ‘consultants’ to supposedly represent Pacific interests to the wider world. The funding and “budget support” aid keeps the Forum secretariat in their pockets.
They sure do look out for the Pacific by poking the small nations in the eye. And tariffs. Keep the Pacific underdeveloped, provide drip drip aid to control Pacific Island nations political policies and alliances.
As for the Fijian government they are not real leaders, do not possess the nuance intelligent by any means. The traitorous Baimaan and his equally incompetent traitorous cohorts, the Snake and his ethno-nationalist sycophants, the likes of checkered Kamikamica, Justice Baboon, porn and weed queen, Mr. trust fund Vosarogo, the minister of chutney, Drunk Choran Singh, the lot of them, all live in a fantasy world totally removed from reality.
Getting their thrills flaunting expensive jewelry, $250,000 gold Rolex watch, expensive and incessant overseas travel and five-star hotels, expensive alcohols, that go with all the trims of their luxurious lifestyles.
Jewelry, gold rolex watches, traveling business class everywhere every time, driving expensive SUVs does not compensate for a complete lack of good judgment and even worse, poor intellect.
While the ordinary people they are supposed to serve to try to uplift and improve the ordinary lives living abject poverty.
A huge blunder which the coalition government unashamedly is trying to down play- and its consequences will prove this government has failed miserably to care about anything other than to hug the limelight without an ounce of humanity between them.
Excellent. Many thanks for the effort that has gone into this. I couldn’t agree more.
No surprise from the Great Nation of the world – we are living in the last days events before the second coming of the God Almighty, Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ! …the trade wars in the last days the bible says so…its part of the last warnings that people must repent from their sins and live a godly life before its too late…
Fiji must live within its means starting with all the ministers, PM, DPMs, MPs, a 60% reduction in their salaries and expenses, no more overseas travel – work & live within our means…plant more crops, fruits, vegetables and lease lands that are unused to all landless people…cut down on imports of white goods and durable consumer goods like cars, we must all start walking to work to save our health, and save fuel imports and carbon emissions… God Bless Fiji
We should be doing it whether the world is coming to an end or not.
Planting subject to land availability to the planting population.
ALAS THE TLTB and all those CHIEFS. They now touting bible verses after screwing the country over.
In Fiji most people only plan for a funeral or adopt good practices after they are deceased. There is little forward planing – react afterwards only or change behavior only when the world is about to end ! But fair warning from Kaiviti not happy.
200% correct GD – I was just reminding all those greedy MPs who voted to increase their salaries when the rest of the people are struggling to put food on the table…even they promised before the 2022 election that they will reduce their pay by 30%…they should reduce it by 60% to off balance USA’s 63% tariff on Fiji’s export …the trade wars are signs of the time.
There was no question of the world coming to an end only 150 years ago when they were munching on each other.
Suddenly when they are introduced to a vulagi religion the world is coming to an end.
Sitiveni went for a prayer breakfast and no one told the idiot about the tariffs. Polynesia did well. Only Baron Waqa from Nauru and Sitiveni from Fiji got shafted. As usual idiots from Fiji Nauru and Vanuatu. Three failed dependent states of the South Seas.
Tokelau, a dependency of NZ with a population of 1,500) also got shafted by the US.
So did Norfolk Island, which is administered by Australia.
As a country, USA is one of richest in the world so incompetent Fijian politicians who think USA doesn’t matter, are simply stupid, starting with Rambo. As for Manoa CumCumEither, he needs his head checked if he thinks his meeting with US ambassador will influence Trump. Can you imagine Goofy talking to the Ambassador “ yeah, u see you, this isn’t fair, umm, you know, this can umm, can kill Fiji, yeah, kerekere, hehe, you know, Fijian people might , yeah, suffer,ee-oh – kerekere we take photo now, hehe”
Manoa has finally proven his incompetence and his lap dog, Pramesh Sharma, on his now closed Facebook page after GD write up, is totally supporting his Master and sledging USA. Wake up and smell the shit – it’s happened under your incompetent watch – maybe get COI done on this one.
Incompetent, unmeritoirous, and downright dimwits have been appointed in crucial positions domestically and internationally.
These monkeys can’t articulate a sentence properly let alone understand diplomatic protocols and more importantly their roles as diplomats. Most of these f**kwits holding diplomatic posts overseas have never been overseas. For most of them it’s a time to party, get drunk, have affairs, travel, shop, and think they are on a taxpayer funded holiday. Don’t forget abuse of tax payer funded missions – chauffeuring Tabuya around London.
I am currently out of the office. On essential ground breaking overseas trips. (See fb photo posts for evidence). On my return I will be able to offer Tariff Busting pills. Just USD$99 for 3 months supply. Guaranteed to work. Postage and packaging, VAT and any local tariffs include.
Regards. LT
Might want to update this.
This is how the tariffs were calculated. It was not on Fiji’s import duty.
https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/reciprocal-tariff-calculations
The Fiji officials in US are incompetent fools. They’ve been busy partying and attending prayer sessions. News flash for the Kai Viti idiots running Fiji – US Tariffs are determined by TRUMP not Jisu! Sa donu…
Does delusional Bimman think that the President of a country with 20 trillion economy gives a shit or even knows who Fiji is?
Fiji is so small that we dont even matter.
Our government should just suck it up and explore newer markets and newer trading partners, just as the rest of the world will now do.
The only reason for being caught off guard is that we have ministers and political appointees incompetent and sleeping on the job.
The Aussies reveal a different calculation method, which would fail junior maths logic but seems to have been used.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-04/how-were-trumps-tariffs-calculated/105136808
No one was caught off guard. The whole world knew about these tariff increases. In fact, this is the 2nd round of increases.
And it didnt matter who is in government in Fiji, it was happening anyway. This is Trump. He will do the Trump thing. Being a nut. He doesnt care what the implications are. In this case the American consumers are the ones bearing the cost.
As someone has mentioned before, Trump probably doesn’t even know where Fiji is. And he doesnt care.
For DPM Kamikamica to say they will negotiate with the Americans is just naive. And for him to suggest that people dont panic is misleading. The Fiji exporters to the US should be panicking. The landed cost of their products just increased. This has an immediate impact on their businesses.
The only solution to this madness is to just wait for Trump to get voted out, as suggested by some Australian politician in the last few days.
Save your time and energy DPM. There is nothing you can do.
That idiot Kamikamica is gonna go to the US authorities and say “kerekere mada, we are iTaukei, we are special people, in fact we think we are God’s chosen people living in the pacific, so you need to give us special dispensation, eh? We are mentally challenged as all “special people” are and it is not right you place a tarriff on us – kerekere, eh, because you know, God is watching, eh”.
In the mean time the new acting Commissioner of Corrections is doing his rounds apologising to all and sundry. It must be a traditional and cultural thing which we vulagi will never undertand. But fortunately Sashi Kiran does. I believe it is a great tradition in wasting everyone’s time. Apparently the idea of apologising is it will fix everything. The bloody vulagis should look and learn. It is especially meaningful when they all sit on the floor and do the black magic with kava. I have had enough of all this bullshit. Someone need to make a stand and say, f*ck the traditions, because it never has and never will work.
Omg – how dumb do these politicians think we are – 101 economics, foreign affairs and trade experience – when idiots like Manoa start acting like the former AG, things blow up in your face – he and his wife advisor are intellectually deficient if they think we will buy this crap. This is all on Rabuka, Biman and Manoa – stop pretending and accept you screwed this up, don’t speak crap thinking it will stick because this will harm Fiji in real terms. ASK despite his flaws would have never let this happen – send Queen of Tarts to convince Trump, she is our own Stormy Daniels.
There is a need to cut 50% of the ministers’ salaries for this f#%% up and the Prime Minister should be the first in line. Well in one way this is karma as Fiji water got exemptions when the Coalition came into power. Now that greed has been fixed up. Fiji’s finances were already in trouble with an incompetent government in place. This is just the icing on the pani keke.
Karma is a real bajaru.
Now I wait to see the chosen people use their powers to seek the removal of the tariff. Supporters of genocide, establishing embassy whilst their chosen Mataqali kill innocent babies. No morals shown by offsprings of cannibals. There is no difference between the ruthless chosen people from mid east and cannibals of the south pac. Both lie, steal, cheat. So yeah, no doubt they chosen for each other.
I hope and pray President Trump brings greater hell on the bajaru Siti and his team.
NO MORals left in Rambo…#dvc