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Pacific Islands / Pacific Forum

MSG to pursue ratification of Melanesian Free Trade Agreement
21-Jan-2021 Fiji Times
The Melanesian Free Trade Agreement is a comprehensive and progressive free trade agreement that aims to achieve regional integration of economies in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
PACER Plus: the case against
25-Nov-2020 Devpolicy Blog
For the Pacific Island Countries, PACER Plus represents a squandered opportunity to address the real development needs of the region and a waste of time and significant resources.
Is the Pacific’s new trade deal an early Xmas gift or a double edged sword?
2-Nov-2020 RNZ
There are mixed reactions in the Pacific to a new free trade deal which comes into force in December.
Pacific trade and development agreement PACER Plus to enter into force
15-Oct-2020 Devdiscourse
Pacific regional trade and development agreement PACER Plus will enter into force in 60 days now that the Cook Islands has become the eightth country to ratify it.
Barrick to appeal lost challenge over PNG mining rights
1-Sep-2020 Reuters
Barrick Gold Corp has lost a court challenge in Papua New Guinea over rights to a highlands gold mine and intends to appeal to the country’s Supreme Court.
Niue ratifies regional PACER Plus trade agreement
3-Jul-2020 RNZ
Niue has ratified the regional trade agreement PACER Plus, pushing it closer to implementation.
Pacific shouldering burden in unbalanced PACER-Plus Trade Deal
27-Feb-2020 PANG
The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are taking on disproportionate binding commitments in exchange for false promises of benefits from the regional free trade deal known as PACER-Plus.
PACER-Plus development assistance analysis: No new money but still with strings attached
26-Feb-2020 PANG
What the development assistance arrangement results in, is aid money, tightly controlled by Australia and New Zealand to flow to areas that will make Forum Island Countries uphold their commitments on market access, ultimately benefiting the two metropolitan Parties.
PACER-Plus labour mobility analysis: Unbound promises and an annual meeting
26-Feb-2020 PANG
PACER-Plus itself achieved little by way of actual improvements for Pacific Islander workers to access the labour markets of Australia and New Zealand.
Pacer Plus set to come on stream later this year - Cooks Deputy PM
21-Feb-2020 RNZ
The trade deal known as Pacer Plus will have immediate benefits for the Cook Islands when it comes into force later this year, says the Cooks’ deputy prime minister.
Interview with Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG)
14-Nov-2019 bilaterals.org
In this interview, we discuss the PACER+ trade deal, the post Cotonou talks with the EU and the influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Pacific region.
China inks several new deals with Samoa ahead of Pacific Island economic forum in Apia
21-Oct-2019 ABC
The new agreements cover a range of areas, including education, e-commerce, investment, infrastructure and agriculture.
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.
Pacific CSO position on post Cotonou agreement
17-May-2019 PIANGO
Despite the failures of the EPA to deliver real development to Pacific countries it looks as though the European Union will once again, through the Post Cotonou Agreement, push for enhanced and undistorted access for European investments to Pacific resources.
China to launch agricultural training in Pacific
1-Apr-2019 Radio NZ
China is launching an agricultural training programme for Pacific Island countries to bring their industries in line with Chinese standards.
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).
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.
Pacific Alliance, Mercosur explore trade ties
24-Jul-2018 Latin Finance
The heads of state from Mercosur’s member nations will attend high-level talks with the Pacific Alliance trade bloc.
Samoa, P.N.G. get the nod
16-Jul-2018 Samoa Observer
Samoa and Papua New Guinea will represent the Pacific at the Ministerial level central negotiating for the post-Cotonou agreement.
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.