A prominent Australian economist, Dr Patricia Ranald, has called the Pacer-Plus agreement a “failed” regional agreement, because it excluded Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

The three countries rejected the deal earlier this year, eleven other Pacific Islands, including Tonga, signed up for the deal last month. The trade agreement calls for greater economic ties and cooperation between the Pacific Islands and Australia/New Zealand.

Despite the majority of Pacific Island countries supporting the agreement, Dr Ranald publicly stated that Pacer-plus had failed as a regional agreement because it excluded Fiji and Papua New Guinea, the two strongest economies in the Pacific that could realistically compete with Australian/New Zealand exports.

“There are serious weaknesses in the agreement because the three largest Pacific island economies are saying there are no benefits for them,” Dr Ranald said before the signing.

Dr Ranald added that Fiji’s and PNG’s rejection of the deal indicated that Pacer-Plus was heavily skewed towards the interests of New Zealand/Australia.

 “PNG and Fiji's rejection shows that the agreement is heavily skewed towards the interests of Australia and New Zealand — despite early rhetoric that the agreement was about development needs.”

Australian Trade Ministry official Keith Pitt disagrees with Ranald’s view. He stated before Pacer-Plus was signed, "Fiji has much to gain from PACER Plus, which will increase the flow of goods and investment in the region.