EU trade negotiations a marathon for Tonga and Pacific Islands [1]
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 17:15. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 10:12.
Tonga's national input into a regional team to negotiate for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on trade between the region and the European Union appears to be a very difficult exercise.
In Tonga's case the consultative meetings held this week in Nuku'alofa were poorly attended by the private sector, and participants had difficulty grasping the complexity of the trade negotiations. Meanwhile, the Forum's selection of Tonga's negotiators and representatives to some of the consultative committees was not clear.
The negotiations for an EPA on trade between the Pacific Forum Countries and the European Union that will come into force on January 1, 2008, has proven to be a marathon for the 14-member countries of the Pacific Forum.
Visiting Tonga this week were Mere Falemaka, a Trade Policy Adviser and Judith Fessehaie, a Trade Analyst, from the Trade and Investment Division of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji, for a consultative three-day meeting, from April 18-20 with Tonga's Private Sector and representatives from the Civil Society.
Moana Taukolo, from the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries, said that the prime purpose of the meeting was for Mere and Judith to have dialogue with the Private Sector and representatives of the Civil Society, on studies that have been carried out on Investment, Fisheries, Tourism and Trading in Goods in Tonga.
Following the consultation meeting Mere and Judith are to present information to a ministerial level meeting before the end of the year. The Ministerial meeting will set out the direction for Forum negotiators for an EPA between the Forum countries and the European Union.
The EPA negotiation is a complex exercise because it has to be compatible with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Moana said that the most difficult areas in the EPA negotiation dealt with reciprocal and preferential arrangements, which will have to be renegotiated to be inline with the WTO. Tonga is expected to become a member of the WTO before the end of the year.