The chief trade advisor for the Pacific Island Forum countries says a proposed regional free trade agreement is not under threat after Fiji's reported withdrawal.
On Friday, Fiji's trade minister, Faiyaz Koya, said his country was withdrawing from negotiations for PACER-Plus, citing inflexibility from Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji's withdrawal would mean the Pacific's two largest economies outside of New Zealand and Australia - Fiji and Papua New Guinea - would not be included in the deal.
Vanuatu has also recently expressed dissatisfaction.
But Edwini Kessie remains optimistic about the deal, and told Jamie Tahana that he hopes an agreement will be reached to keep Fiji in the deal.
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