Fiji, the Pacific nation most affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s broad tariff policy, has acknowledged its limited ability to respond.
The country faces a 32% tariff, the highest among Pacific nations, while Vanuatu was hit with 22% and Nauru, 30%.
Addressing reporters, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka described the move as a “trade blockade,” admitting that the nation lacks the resources to push back.
“We cannot fight a war, especially a trade war,” Rabuka stated. “We have nothing to counter with, so we must endure and adapt,” he told FBC News.
The United States remains Fiji’s largest export market, largely due to its well-known bottled water brand. In 2023, Fiji exported $253 million worth of its branded spring water to the U.S.
Despite the tariffs, Westpac analyst Justin Smirk told APP that he expects minimal impact on Fiji’s water exports, citing the brand’s strong market presence and customer loyalty.
Other Pacific nations have also been affected, with the Trump administration imposing a 10% tariff on Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
