Trade Ministers' Forum moving forward with PACER Plus [1]
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 19:40. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 10:06.
Photos by Sione Vuki
HOW Pacific Forum countries can build a way forward in the PACER Plus negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, is a demanding issue that is being discussed at the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting that opened in Neiafu, Vava'u today, May 18.
The two day-meeting which aims to advance regional trade was opened by Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano and attended by the Deputy Minister of Samoa Hon Fonotoe Lauofo, the Deputy Prime Minister of Cook Islands Hon Tom Marsters, the Forum Trade Ministers and the Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat Tuiloma Neroni Slade.
PACER Plus
Lord Tu'ivakano in his keynote address at the Puataukanave International Hotel said Tonga believes PACER Plus is important to our growth and development.
He said one of the demanding issues for discussion is PACER Plus and how we can build a way forward with our trading partners and development partners in the face of changing priorities, and what may have been perceived as a slow start.
Tonga's Minister of Labour, Commerce and Small Industries Hon Lisiate 'Akolo and his staff are pursuing Tonga's renewed commitment to the PACER Plus table.
"As considered by Forum Leaders, it is time for Forum countries to work together and shape the region's trade future. It is time to move forward and make real advances in the negotiation. We need to find a pace that is suitable to all and it must become a reality."
He said a testament of the Forum leadership is the adoption of Leaders in 2009 and 2010 to start PACER Plus negotiations among other trade negotiations as instruments to promote regional economic growth.
In the past in Vava'u, crops such as vanilla and kava were export products and significant income generators for the people of Vava'u, he said. "It is my hope that through progress made in on-going regional trade negotiations will again contribute to Tonga's export position," he said.
Australia
Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island affairs, Hon Richard Marles, at the meeting, said that Australia's primary objective in the PACER Plus negotiations is to promote sustainable economic development of Pacific Island countries through regional trade and economic integration.
He said the meeting would consider a number of regional trade issues including the progress in the regional negotiations with Australia and New Zealand in regards to, PACER Plus.
Australia has committed substantial development assistance to regional trade issues including funding for independent trade and research for each Forum Island country and an Office of the Chief Trade adviser to assist Forum Island countries in negotiations, he added.
Economic benefits
Tuiloma Slade said in his address said trade offers an important link to economic development and growth for Pacific island countries.
He said Forum Leaders recognised that trade agreements, "fairly and successfully negotiated, will bring essential economic benefits to member countries, particularly through active trade and investment. We must all press on."
"We simply must pull together to make the best of it. We need to continue to move forward as a region and to engage with the world, in particular through trade and all trade opportunities," he said.
He noted that the results of the Ministers' work in the two day meeting on PACER Plus will provide the basis for constructive consultations and needed directions for the ongoing negotiations.
Issues
The Trade Ministers meeting holds discussions on trade related issues in seven sessions.
On Wednesday, May 18, five sessions were held where Ministers received updates on the Forum Trade World Trade Organisation in Geneva and from the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest.
A third session was held on developments relating to traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights followed by a session on the Pacific Forum Secretariat trade related work program.
In the afternoon the meeting held discussions on PACER Plus and other related issues.
On May 19, there will be a discussion between members on trade negotiations followed by discussions on the next meeting of Forum Trade Ministers before finalising their outcomes document at the meeting.
A Pasifiki Trade Fair is to be opened by Hon Richard Marles.