A Vanuatu policy analyst John Salong has dismissed the government claim that the country has no choice but to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Vanuatu's government recently re-entered negotiations for its accession to the WTO.
The Trade Minister James Bule says it's imperative for Vanuatu to follow in the footsteps of other Melanesian countries who are already WTO members.
Mr Bule claims that Vanuatu has to open up all its markets to outside access or fall by the wayside in the global economy.
However John Salong says the government has failed to explain what ni-Vanuatu, most of whom survive on the traditional custom economy, would be gaining by joining.
"And that's a ridiculous argument giong into something, saying we've been forced.. by who? This is a sovereign country. So the argument is nonsensical to some of us who look at the trade imbalances and the reality that Vanuatu cannot even organise for people in the rural areas to bring things to markets."
John Salong says if the WTO is about improving trade, Vanuatu should first look at improving its internal infrastructure for market access.
