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PACER

Mixed reviews on Pacific Trade deal, Pacer Plus
23-Sep-2019 NZ Herald
Pacer Plus has been promoted as a hybrid development and trade deal, with the primary benefits going to the nine Pacific countries that have signed the deal.
Samoa ratifies PACER Plus agreement
13-Aug-2019 Mirage News
Samoa becomes the first of the Pacific Island nations and the third country overall to ratify the agreement, known as PACER Plus.
Samoa ratifies PACER Plus trade and development deal
19-Jul-2019 Scoop
Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker has congratulated Samoa on their ratification of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus).
Cook Islands puts PACER Plus ratification on hold
2-Nov-2018 Brinkwire
The Cook Islands’ decision to hit pause on the deal was over the country’s impending graduation from developing to developed-country-status. Under its new status it may no longer be eligible for official development assistance, including under PACER Plus.
Analysis on trade deal shows Pacific losing out
29-Oct-2018 PANG
The concerns held by Pacific communities and some Pacific island governments about the regional free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus are well founded according to new analysis released by the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG).
NZ first country to ratify PACER Plus trade deal
29-Oct-2018 Radio NZ
New Zealand has become the first country to ratify a Pacific free trade deal.
Trade for All is a lie
8-Aug-2018 Daily Blog
New Zealand Labour-led government’s ‘Trade for All agenda’ is somehow meant to re-engender confidence without addressing any issues.
Samoa cautioned in critical trade decisions
6-Aug-2018 Samoa Observer
PACER-Plus is a highly problematic FTA containing far too many concessions by Forum Island Countries to Australia and New Zealand, reshaping Pacific Island economies.
PNG could sign onto Pacific trade pact
2-May-2018 SBS
The PNG government is doing some soul searching over whether to join the Pacer Plus free trade deal and potentially could sign up by the end of the year.
Pacific economic ministers cautioned on NZ’s PACER-Plus view
26-Apr-2018 Scoop
PACER-Plus will undermine the right of governments to regulate, and see the Pacific bear the burden of binding commitments in the areas of interest to Australia and New Zealand whilst getting little legal commitments in return.
PACER Plus: debate about Tonga’s signing could mean even more PACER-Minus
9-Apr-2018 AFTINET
The Kingdom of Tonga’s Prime Minister, ’Akilisi Pohiva, threw more doubt over Tonga’s signature on the PACER-Plus free trade agreement.
Tonga says it is still in PACER Plus
3-Apr-2018 Radio NZ
Tonga’s prime minister has denied that Tonga has withdrawn from the regional trade deal known as PACER Plus.
Tonga withdraws from PACER Plus
29-Mar-2018 Radio NZ
Tonga’s prime minister says his country is no longer a signatory to the regional trade deal known as PACER Plus.
NZ told PACER Plus deal could be destructive for the Pacific
6-Mar-2018 Radio NZ
An analyst says New Zealand’s planned trade deal with the Pacific Island nations could be extremely damaging to their economies.
New Zealand risks ’strategic nincompoop’ status in the Pacific
1-Mar-2018 Stuff
New Zealand risks being seen as a “strategic nincompoop, at best” if it persists with attempts to bind Pacific Island countries into the New Zealand and Australian economies using mechanisms such as the PACER Plus.
Pacific trade deal PACER-Plus is PACER-minus
29-Nov-2017 Scoop
PNG and Fiji’s unwillingness to participate demonstrates that the agreement is heavily skewed towards the interests of Australia and New Zealand.
Australia emphasises relationship with NZ in trade plans
24-Nov-2017 Scoop
Australia has reiterated the importance of New Zealand to its foreign policy direction with particular emphasis on the role it sees New Zealand playing in its economic engagement with Pacific island countries.
PACER Plus signatories urged to examine their commitments
5-Oct-2017 Radio NZ
Pacific countries already signed up to the PACER Plus are being urged to more closely examine their commitments under the deal, including the implications for customary land.
Papua New Guinea eyes new era of trading
2-Oct-2017 Oxford Business Group
A new trade policy looks set to shift Papua New Guinea’s focus towards the development of bilateral ties and away from multinational agreements as part of broader efforts to create a more balanced trading environment.
Vanuatu businesses unhappy with PACER signing
13-Sep-2017 Radio NZ
The private sector in Vanuatu has expressed surprise the government had reversed its position on the PACER PLUS trade deal despite opposition from the businesses affected.