Tongans can now ship watermelons to New Zealand after temporary permits were issued to exporters under special conditions, according to Radio New Zealand.
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Results for Trade
Friday 4 December 2020
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Auckland, New Zealand

Friday 14 August 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga still faces challenges with digital adoption, particularly in business operations and even more so in the informal sector, which will need to be addressed for Tonga to fully realise the benefit of digital revolution, the Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Hon Samiu Vaipulu said this week, at the launching of a Tonga Trade Policy Framework and an eCommerce Readiness Assessment report.

Saturday 27 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga can boost its foreign earnings significantly if we are able to export quality Tongan kava, the Prime Minister, Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa announced at the launching of the Tonga Kava Quality Standard on 25 June at the Ancient Tonga Centre, Fangaloto, Nuku'alofa. The two main suppliers of Tongan kava, Vava’u and ‘Eua Island, have already heavily invested in planting.

Monday 29 April 2019
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Geneva, Switzerland
The use of new technology to facilitate trade and address food safety was discussed at the International Forum on Food Safety and Trade held on 23-24 April, by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Addis Ababa.

Wednesday 17 April 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A three days workshop on the World Trade Organization Notification Requirements began in Nuku’alofa on 15 April, with the aim of assisting Tongan officials to understand necessary notification processes. “I think Tonga should be able to fulfil its obligation, and we hope that after this workshop, Tonga clears the backlog that it has got,” said Dr Edwini Kessie, a WTO official.

Monday 28 January 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is currently playing an active role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Lopeti Senituli, a personal adviser to the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, told Matangi Tonga.

Tuesday 24 July 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A consignment of Tongan squash to be shipped to China this year is targeted to be around 600-700 metric tonnes (mt), an increase from 248mt last year due to export demand.

Wednesday 23 May 2018
Geneva, Switzerland
Trade challenges in the Pacific region, including Tonga, will be looked at by the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting this week, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 25-26 May. WTO Director General, Roberto Azevedo, expresses an opinion that more can be done to support economic growth and development in Tonga and across the Pacific. UPDATED.
Tuesday 20 March 2018
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Auckland, New Zealand
Tonga’s Growers Council are looking for more sustained opportunities to market their food especially root crops, while attending a Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand’s Pasifika Market in Auckland this week.

Thursday 4 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Demand for vehicles in Tonga is continuing to increase, while traffic jams and queues grow longer every month in the capital Nuku'alofa.

Friday 16 June 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An inspection shed for handicrafts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forest, Fisheries and PHAMA program was opened on Friday, June 16 to support people involved in the industry and increase exports.

Sunday 7 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga needs to act fast in creating a plan to take advantage of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations PACER Plus, between 12 Pacific Island Countries, plus Australia and New Zealand, said ‘Anisi Kulu Bloomfield, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Trade.

Tuesday 26 July 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga and China are discussing trade, but there’s stiff competition to sell products in China. “You have to promote how good your products are,” a Chinese trade official Mr Jiang Shan told Tongan Journalists at China’s Ministry of Commerce in Beijing in June. By Finau Fonua
Thursday 12 November 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Thursday 23 October 2014
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Australia
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) says ongoing negotiations for the controversial free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus are creating an unbalanced agreement against the interests of the Pacific Islands. - Adam Wolfenden.

Wednesday 9 April 2014
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Geneva, Switzerland
The revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement GPA entered into force on 6 April 2014. The parties to the revised GPA will see gains in market access of an estimated US$80 billion to US$100 billion annually for their businesses. – WTO 7 April 2014.

Sunday 16 February 2014
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Geneva, Switzerland
An important review of Tonga's trade policy by the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 11-13, found that the Pacific island nation faces a backlog of reforms that are required to modernize and streamline its legal and regulatory frameworks for economic development. Tonga's imports continue to outstrip its exports by a factor of at least 10:1 annually and over 50% of its imports are for fuel and food.
