FICs conclude 2nd round of PICTA trade in services negotiations
PRESS STATEMENT (76/08)
25 July 2008
PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES TRADE AGREEMENT (PICTA) TRADE IN SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS – SECOND ROUND
Trade officials from Forum Island Countries (FICs) met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 23 – 25 July, 2008 for the second round of negotiations for a Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) trade in services (TIS) arrangement. FICs were represented by their senior trade and legal officials.
FIC officials took into account the first round of negotiations undertaken from 31 March – 2 April 2008, and preparatory work undertaken in the FICs.
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has been facilitating the preparatory work and capacity building of the FICs as they engage in the negotiations of PICTA trade in services.
In his introductory remarks, PIFS’ Director Economic Governance, Dr Roman Grynberg, urged FIC officials to negotiate a meaningful PICTA trade in services arrangement that delivers positive impacts on FICs’ economies.
“The need for a forward looking approach to what the PICTA TIS can deliver is of great importance in terms of FICs trade relations amongst ourselves as well as with other economies,” Dr Grynberg emphasized.
The broadening of the free trade area among FICs covering trade in goods to also include trade in services was agreed by Forum Trade Ministers in 1999. Work on preparing for a trade in services arrangement among the FICs has been ongoing since then at regional and national levels. In March 2008 the FIC Trade Ministers launched the negotiations for a PICTA trade in services arrangement.
During the three days of negotiations, FICs exchanged their indicative requests and offers for the services sector liberalization. The offers and requests also covered temporary movement of natural persons (TMNP) within the FICs.
The officials also negotiated the revised text of the arrangement, and discussed specific disciplines relating to facilitating trade in services and TMNP within the FICs.
The meeting recognized the importance of extensive regional integration among the FICs, and officials will be engaging in further national consultations on trade in services liberalization in the context of PICTA as they prepare for the next round of negotiations.
“While considerable progress has been made in terms of finalizing a PICTA trade in services arrangement, given the complexities of trade in services, there is still a need for further technical work to be undertaken,” Dr Grynberg said.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact Mr Shiu Raj, the Forum’s Trade Policy Adviser (PICTA) on phone (679) 331 2600 or email shiur@forumsec.org.fj
25 July 2008
PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES TRADE AGREEMENT (PICTA) TRADE IN SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS – SECOND ROUND
Trade officials from Forum Island Countries (FICs) met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 23 – 25 July, 2008 for the second round of negotiations for a Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) trade in services (TIS) arrangement. FICs were represented by their senior trade and legal officials.
FIC officials took into account the first round of negotiations undertaken from 31 March – 2 April 2008, and preparatory work undertaken in the FICs.
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has been facilitating the preparatory work and capacity building of the FICs as they engage in the negotiations of PICTA trade in services.
In his introductory remarks, PIFS’ Director Economic Governance, Dr Roman Grynberg, urged FIC officials to negotiate a meaningful PICTA trade in services arrangement that delivers positive impacts on FICs’ economies.
“The need for a forward looking approach to what the PICTA TIS can deliver is of great importance in terms of FICs trade relations amongst ourselves as well as with other economies,” Dr Grynberg emphasized.
The broadening of the free trade area among FICs covering trade in goods to also include trade in services was agreed by Forum Trade Ministers in 1999. Work on preparing for a trade in services arrangement among the FICs has been ongoing since then at regional and national levels. In March 2008 the FIC Trade Ministers launched the negotiations for a PICTA trade in services arrangement.
During the three days of negotiations, FICs exchanged their indicative requests and offers for the services sector liberalization. The offers and requests also covered temporary movement of natural persons (TMNP) within the FICs.
The officials also negotiated the revised text of the arrangement, and discussed specific disciplines relating to facilitating trade in services and TMNP within the FICs.
The meeting recognized the importance of extensive regional integration among the FICs, and officials will be engaging in further national consultations on trade in services liberalization in the context of PICTA as they prepare for the next round of negotiations.
“While considerable progress has been made in terms of finalizing a PICTA trade in services arrangement, given the complexities of trade in services, there is still a need for further technical work to be undertaken,” Dr Grynberg said.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact Mr Shiu Raj, the Forum’s Trade Policy Adviser (PICTA) on phone (679) 331 2600 or email shiur@forumsec.org.fj
