SPARTECA amendments mooted to sustain garment trade
21 Feb '06
1 min read
The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Fiji has completed negotiations with Australia over effecting amendments to South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (SPARTECA) rules.
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council have been approaching the government to take remedial actions in order to save the future of garment industry and want Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to hold further discussions with Australian PM.
Negotiations have ended and they await a favourable reply from Australia, said Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola.
Rules of Origin for SPARTECA state that garment manufacturers have to buy 50 percent of the required materials from Australia.
This causes great hardship for garment manufacturers to compete, so there is a need to make some alterations in it, he said.
The acceptance for a change would breathe life into the industry and save thousands of jobs, said the Minister.
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