News
May 2016 update on Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The PACER Plus 6th Non-State Actors Dialogue will be held from 10 to 11 June at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji. More information can be found on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s website.
January 2016 update on Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The PACER Plus 5th Non-State Actors Dialogue, 13th Intersessional and 8th Officials’ meetings were held from 4 to 9 December 2015 in Nadi, Fiji.
The Non-State Actors Dialogue provided an opportunity for civil society and private sector representatives, along with Trade Officials from across the region, to discuss the PACER Plus Agreement currently being negotiated amongst Pacific Islands Forum members.
PACER Plus officials at the December meeting endorsed progress made in the negotiations during four Intersessional meetings held in Port Vila (May), Apia (August), Melbourne (October) and Nadi (December) in 2015.
November 2015 update on Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers’ meeting (FTMM), held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on 29 October 2015, took a number of decisions relating to the PACER Plus negotiations. Ministers noted the direction provided by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and the substantive progress made in the PACER Plus negotiations. Ministers instructed trade negotiators to redouble their efforts and conclude a high quality trade and investment agreement that would enhance the participation of the Forum Island Countries in international trade at the latest by June 2016.
The FTMM was held alongside the Forum Economic Ministers’ meeting (FEMM) and a joint meeting of economic and trade ministers with the private sector. The 2015 FTMM outcomes document can be found on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s website.
September 2015 update on Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The 46th Pacific Islands Forum was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 8 to 10 September 2015. On PACER Plus, the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué noted:
- Considerable progress has been made since the launch of negotiations for PACER Plus in 2009, with negotiations on most chapters close to conclusion and continuing positive engagement and flexibility shown by all parties. Leaders renewed their commitment to the PACER Plus negotiations as an instrument for promoting regional integration in the Pacific and assisting Forum Island Countries to achieve robust economic growth and sustainable development.
- In noting the substantive progress made in the PACER Plus negotiations, Leaders requested Ministers responsible for international trade to ensure that their negotiators exercise the necessary flexibility in the negotiations to facilitate the rapid conclusion of a high quality trade and investment agreement, at the latest, by June 2016.
More information: 46th Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué
December 2014 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The fourth Non-State Actors (NSAs) Dialogue on PACER Plus was held on Friday 12 December 2014 at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.
More information on the Fourth Non-State Actors Dialogue can be found on the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser’s website.
October 2014 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
Fiji has accepted the May 2014 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' invitation to participate in the PACER Plus negotiations. Fiji officials participated in a PACER Plus negotiating session held in Wellington in late September/early October 2014.
May 2014 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers’ meeting, held in Kiribati on 28 May 2014, took a number of decisions relating to the PACER Plus negotiations.
Forum Trade Ministers welcomed the good progress achieved in the negotiations since July 2013 and agreed that the next inter-sessional negotiating session would be held from 10-12 June in Australia. Ministers directed officials to intensify their engagement with the view to concluding the negotiations on the legal texts by December 2014. Ministers agreed that the next Non State Actor Dialogue on PACER Plus would be convened later in 2014.
More information can be found on: 2014 Forum Trade Ministers' meeting outcomes.
May 2014 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
On 5 May Pacific Islands Forum Leaders considered the 15 February Ministerial Contact Group recommendation that Fiji be invited to participate in PACER Plus negotiations and Forum Trade Ministers' meetings. Leaders welcomed Fiji’s participation in PACER Plus negotiations at both official and ministerial levels, as well as in relevant Forum Trade Ministers’ meetings at ministerial level. Furthermore, Leaders tasked the Forum Secretariat to issue invitations to Fiji to participate.
February 2014 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group released a statement on 15 February 2014 with a recommendation that Pacific Islands Forum Leaders agree to invite Fiji to participate in PACER Plus negotiations and Forum Trade Ministers' Meetings at ministerial level.
More information: Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group Outcomes Statement
December 2013 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
Consistent with guidance provided by Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers in July 2013, the PACER Plus negotiations have expanded to include a wider range of issues.
December 2013 update
November 2013 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Third Non-State Actors (NSAs) Dialogue on PACER Plus will be held on Friday, 29 November 2013 at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland, New Zealand.
November 2013 update
September 2013 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
At the 44th Pacific Islands Forum, held in the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 3 to 5 September 2013, Leaders directed trade officials to actively build on the substantial progress made in the PACER Plus negotiations as directed by Forum Trade Ministers in July 2013.
September 2013 update
July 2013 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers’ meeting, held in Samoa on 19 July 2013, took a number of decisions relating to the PACER Plus negotiations.
July 2013 update
December 2012 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
Consistent with the guidance provided by Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers in May 2012, two inter-sessional meetings have been held in Port Vila.
December 2012 update
September 2012 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
At the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum, held in Cook Islands from 28 to 30 August 2012, Leaders noted the recent positive developments in progressing the PACER Plus negotiations. Leaders also supported increased engagement by Forum Island countries to make rapid progress on priority trade issues in the PACER Plus negotiations.
More information can be found on 43rd Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué
May 2012 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers’ meeting, held in the Republic of Marshall Islands on 11 May 2012, took a number of decisions relating to the PACER Plus negotiations.
May 2012 update
December 2011 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
A PACER Plus Non State Actor Dialogue is scheduled to be held on 26 March 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. The fourth PACER Plus officials’ meeting is scheduled for 27-29 March 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. The main issues to be discussed at the officials’ meeting are labour mobility, rules of origin and customs procedures.
September 2011 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
Forum Island countries have requested that the next meetings of PACER Plus officials and non-state actors be held after February 2012. Dates and arrangements for these meetings will be established after further consultations.
May 2011 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
The Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers' Meeting, held in Tonga on 18-19 May 2011, took a number of decisions relating to the PACER Plus negotiations.
May 2011 update
April 2011 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
A meeting of PACER Plus trade officials was held in Palau on 14-15 March 2011. In addition to Pacific Islands Forum member countries' trade officials, participants in the meeting included representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Oceania Customs Organisation and Office of Chief Trade Adviser.
April 2011 update
November 2010 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
At their meeting in August 2010, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders welcomed progress made on PACER Plus negotiations. Leaders also agreed to refer the issue of participation of Fiji in the PACER Plus negotiations to the Ministerial Contact Group on Fiji for further consideration. Leaders further agreed for the Ministerial Contact Group to consider possible modalities for engaging Fiji in PACER Plus negotiations and to circulate their findings to Leaders for consideration before the next Forum.
November 2010 update
April 2010 update on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus negotiations
A meeting of PACER Plus trade officials was held in Vanuatu on 14 and 15 April 2010. In addition to Pacific Islands Forum member countries' officials, participants in the meeting included the Chief Trade Adviser and representatives of the Oceania Customs Organisation. Participants in the meeting discussed the priority negotiating issues previously agreed by Forum Trade Ministers in October 2009, namely: rules of origin, trade facilitation, development assistance and regional labour mobility. Participants also received an update on the establishment of the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser, which officially commenced operations in Port Vila on 29 March 2010.
April 2010 update