Trump Slaps Fiji with 32% Tariffs

US President Donald Trump has hit Fiji with a 32 per cent tariff on its exports to the United States.

The move is framed as a retaliation for Fiji’s 63 per cent tariff on American imports.

At the heart of the impact is Fiji’s bottled water industry—its most valuable export sector.

In 2023, Fiji exported $267 million worth of water, with $241 million of that going to the U.S.

The American market alone accounts for the vast majority of Fiji's bottled water exports, making it highly vulnerable to tariff changes.

Despite the industry’s strong performance, the Fijian government recently introduced a seven-year corporate tax holiday for both new and existing water bottling companies.

The initiative, part of the 2023-2024 national budget, was designed to attract investment and stimulate regional development.

With the cost of Fijian goods rising under the new policy, the U.S. market could become less accessible for Fijian exporters.

This will very likely further impact the cost of living.