Papua New Guinea's Trade Minister Richard Maru is optimistic a visit by a Fiji delegation will result in the lifting of the ban on certain PNG-made products in its market.
PNG Trade Minister, Richard Maru. Photo: Fiji Government
Last month, Mr Maru threatened to ban some Fiji-made products if its Melanesian neighbour did not explain why Ox and Palm, Paradise Biscuits and Trukai Rice were banned from Fiji.
This resulted in the Fiji government sending its Trade Commissioner and Biosecurity Authority officials to Port Moresby.
Discussions are ongoing and will be followed by site inspections of the three manufacturers of the products this week.
Mr Maru thanked the Fiji government for approving the trip to solve the issue.
He says the issue has been around for 12 years and he expects both teams to cooperate and work together.
Mr Maru says the expectation and hope is that over the next few days the so-called impasse will be a thing of the past and they can move on to bigger MSG Trade agreements.
