Urgent and significant adjustments in agriculture and fisheries are needed in Pacific island countries to withstand challenges posed by increased globalization of trade, an FAO statement said today.

In addition to assessing trade dynamics in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, Pacific countries also require new policy and scientific instruments for the analysis and understanding of the impact of trade on the environment, biodiversity, food safety and food security.

"Making sure that trade ultimately benefits the greatest number of countries and people remains the biggest challenge", advised FAO's Pacific regional head Vili Fuavao.

Pacific countries therefore call for an independent forum for information exchange and capacity building on WTO, particularly on the Agreement on Agriculture and the provisions on Fisheries.

While reducing tariffs on agriculture is part of ongoing WTO negotiations to promote more equitable economic development globally, tariff reductions also mean increased competition from imported foods for locally produced products.

Domestic production systems in PICs contribute significantly to food supplies, rural incomes and employment, and need to make adjustments to withstand this challenge, FAO said.

"Progress and modernization in small-scale countries does not always come easy and also comes at a price, despite the best possible intentions", warned the Italian Ambassador to New Zealand HE Liana Marolla.

Over the last decades, increased consumption of foods and non-food agricultural products in Pacific islands ...– together with growing populations and changing diets ...– has revealed the need for sustainable use of natural resources and the environment.

"The WTO agreements and the Doha Round do not directly involve all Pacific island countries, but all of them are effected one way or another by WTO rules and agreements", noted Neil Fraser, Manager International Liaison at the New Zealand ministry of agriculture and forestry.

Convening the meeting in Wellington ensures that New Zealand is able to provide trade policy expertise in this way, Mr Frazer added.

The meeting comes at a time of increasing trade liberalisation and facilitation, as can be seen in the negotiations of the recent Doha Development Round, such as the Agreement on Agriculture and provisions on Fisheries, and regional trade agreements and negotiations ...– such as the Pacific ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) and the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER).

Twelve Pacific Island countries attended the FAO 10 Annual round-table meeting on WTO and regional trade agreements and provisions in Wellington from 17 to 21 September 2007.

The objective of the conference was to enhance Pacific island capacities to deal with agriculture and fisheries trade policies; assist in their negotiations and implementation of trade agreements at the multilateral and regional levels; build capacity among national and regional trade negotiators, and develop national and regional agricultural, fisheries and trade policy, focusing on food security.

The meeting was collaborative effort between FAO's Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific based in Samoa, the governments of New Zealand and Italy, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Auckland-based Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (PITIC).

Participants came from Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. FAO, 21/09/07.