Results for pacer plus

When the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement Plus (PACER Plus) comes into force next week on 13 December 2020, introducing new trade rules, Tonga will face a major financial difficulty of countering big trade deficits with two of its main trading partners, Australia and New Zealand. By Pesi Fonua

Tonga is one of four Pacific Island countries that is supporting a proposal for the establishment of a Regional Secretariat for labour mobility initiatives and a PACER Plus Implementation Unit. The Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu also offered to host the Labour Mobility Initiatives and the PACER Plus Implementation Unit in their own country, when the proposal was raised at the 2018 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting, held in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 10 October 2018.

A petition by civil societies from around the Pacific was sent to Pacific Trade Ministers today, 24 August, two days ahead of their Christchurch meeting, calling for them to not reach any conclusion on the PACER-Plus talks, until all texts have been released and there has been a fully funded independent and comprehensive impact assessment.

A two-day private sector consultation is being held this week on March 17-18 in Nuku'alofa, to discuss the potential implications of the Regional Pacer Plus Agreement (PACER Plus) on Tonga’s private sector, following the closing of previous consultations hosted by Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry with representatives from the private sector and the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA).

A two-days workshop on Emerging Global and Regional Trade Issues for the Commonwealth Pacific Region began at the Scenic Hotel, Pelehake, Tongatapu this morning 12 November.

A three days Regional Seminar on Telecommunications Services for Pacific Island countries concluded in Nadi, Fiji today, 22 April.

Although Free Trade Agreements with trading partners provide opportunities for market access for Pacific Islands products, generally businesses in Tonga lack awareness of the rules, says Viliame Rova who facilitated a workshop this week in Nuku'alofa.

A network of civil groups in the Pacific has made a plea for Pacific Island Governments to end current free trade negotiations, ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum dialogue on PACER-Plus in Nadi today.

Tongan, Fijian and Samoan exporters are confident that their sales will rise by over 50% over the next 12 months, according to the inaugural “Pacific Export Survey 2014”.