bilaterals.org

Pacific's Chief Trade Advisor resigns with a warning for Australia

2011-09-02 15:37:12

The Pacific's Chief Trade Advisor has resigned with a warning that unless Australia and New Zealand act soon to put something of value on the table for the PACER plus trade negotiations, the talks risk falling over.

A-G questions agreement merits

2011-07-01 13:36:52

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has questioned the merits of trade agreements that serve to benefit the economically powerful more than developing economies.

PACER Plus ineffective without Fiji: AG

2011-07-01 13:33:47

Any regional economic agreement that excludes Fiji will be an ineffective instrument for trade and development says Trade Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

No strings needed on funding for OCTA - NGOs

2011-05-25 03:31:15

A number of Australian non government organisation say they are concerned that Australia and New Zealand want to limit the activities of the Pacific-led trade advisory body, the Office of Chief Trade Adviser — also known as OCTA.

No rush: Rugebatu warns against rushing into PACER Plus

2010-10-19 02:30:19

The Solomon Islands' biggest umbrella body for community service organisations on Saturday warned against rushing into PACER-Plus – a free trade agreement proposed between Pacific Island countries, Australia and New Zealand.

PACER-Plus: Why we need to get it right

2010-09-13 15:29:13

“PACER-Plus is the most important economic negotiation that Forum Islands nations will undertake this decade, so you need to get it right.” So says Dr Chris Noonan, Chief Trade Advisor to Forum Islands Countries for the PACER-Plus free trade negotiations.

Speed of PACER-plus negotiations unfair on Pacific Island nations

2010-08-15 23:02:52

Australia and New Zealand are being accused of fast-tracking the Pacific-wide free trade agreement, PACER-Plus. Civil society organisations want a moratorium on negotiations.

Moratorium needed on Pacific trade talks, warn Pacific Civil Society Organisations

2010-08-05 06:18:43

Civil society groups from the Pacific including churches, trade unions, gender groups, indigenous rights groups and advocacy groups launched a statement calling for a moratorium on negotiations for a new Pacific-wide free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus.

Pacific Islands Trade: A year's worth of bad outcomes

2010-07-28 07:29:18

Despite being launched only a year ago by Pacific leaders, the negotiations on the Pacific trade agreement known as PACER-Plus are slipping away from the Islands.

Food for thought and action

2010-05-04 08:24:12

A critical look at the likely implications of a free trade agreement dubbed Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER-Plus) between the island countries and Australia and New Zealand on food sovereignty.

Trade ministers to begin talks on Pacific deal

2009-10-22 23:36:12

Trade ministers from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific island countries will meet in Brisbane for two days from Friday as negotiations are launched for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER-Plus).

Fiji will pull out from trade agreements

2009-08-17 04:07:13

Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji will pull out of the Trade Agreement negotiations.

Pacific leaders agree on aid, free trade negotiations

2009-08-07 06:24:01

An agreement was reached to progress Pacer Plus, the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, and to keep Fiji informed but not formally involved in the process.

Australia, NZ deny bullying Pacific nations over trade deal

2009-08-07 06:21:11

Australia and New Zealand Friday denied bullying Pacific Island nations into starting negotiations for a controversial regional free trade deal.

Pacific island countries set to block regional trade deal

2009-08-05 07:29:12

Opponents say island countries' local industries would be destroyed by cheaper imports and govts would lose much of their revenue if tariffs and duties were lifted on Aussie, NZ goods

Australia continues to harbour concern over Pacific trade talks

2009-08-04 09:42:50

Australia has been hoping that this week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting will approve the formal start of negotiations on the proposed PACER-Plus regional free trade deal. But for months Canberra has been rejecting growing claims by regional opponents of a deal that its been unfairly pressuring Pacific nations to agree to the process.

Australia's getting the plus in PACER

2009-07-08 10:54:07

Out of the nine resolutions made by trade ministers in the Pacific at their meeting in Samoa last month, seven were said to be concessions to their bigger neighbours of Australia and New Zealand.

Pacific Islands bullied by Australian, NZ trade officials, say experts

2009-06-01 00:10:25

Tactics employed by Australia and New Zealand to push Pacific Island countries into signing a free trade agreement are a form of “contemporary colonization,” said academic and respected analyst on Pacific Island affairs, Professor Jane Kelsey at a seminar in Auckland last week.

10 Reasons to Challenge PACER-Plus

2009-04-27 00:33:17

The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) has prepared a fact-sheet (10 Reasons to Challenge PACER-Plus) outlining concerns about a potential free trade agreement between Australia/New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries. Concerns include dramatic losses in government revenue, an undermining of public services, potential threats to indigenous land-rights, business closures and job losses.

Australian Trade Minister faces hard sell on Pacific Free Trade tour

2009-04-07 01:12:59

The idea of a South Pacific free trade zone is a dream which has remained elusive for many years, mainly because many island nations are heavily dependent on import tariffs to maintain government services. Despite this, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean has been touring the region in an attempt to generate new support for the concept.