PRESS STATEMENT (38/09)

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

FORUM TRADE MINISTERS MEETING
Apia, 17 June 2009

Ministers recognised the importance of deepening regional trade integration as a means to create jobs, enhance private sector growth, raise standards of living and advance the region’s sustainable economic development.

Ministers affirm that PACER-Plus provides the Pacific region with a significant opportunity to develop a truly innovative trade and economic agreement that takes account of the different stages of development of each nation.

Ministers stress the importance of progressing PACER- Plus as a means to underpin the economic security of the region through capacity building and market liberalization. Ministers reflected their intention to bolster the capacity of all Forum Island Countries to take advantage of trade opportunities to help their economies grow, and become more resilient to shocks such as the current global economic crisis.

Forum Island Country (FIC) Ministers welcomed and expressed gratitude to Australia and New Zealand for their stated funding contribution for the establishment of the Office of Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA).

Reflecting the strong engagement at Ministerial and Officials levels over the past 12 months, Ministers recommend to our Leaders that PACER- Plus negotiations commence after the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Cairns in August 2009. This decision responds to the direction given by Leaders at Niue in 2008 to agree at the 2009 Forum to the commencement of negotiations.

In particular, Ministers have agreed to the following decisions:


1. recommend to Leaders that PACER-Plus negotiations commence after the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Cairns in August 2009;

2. the Office of an independent OCTA be established forthwith;

3. the OCTA be established initially as a special unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) prior to the establishment of the permanent office in Vanuatu;

4. the Secretary General be requested to proceed immediately to advertise for a suitable candidate as Chief Trade Adviser (CTA), noting that the CTA would be responsible for recruiting necessary staff for the OCTA;

5. further and future funding for OCTA building on the Australian and New Zealand contributions be also sought from other donors;

6. a Board of Governors comprising the FICs Lead Spokesperson on PACER-Plus matters as Chairman together with the two Alternate Lead Spokespersons being the Ministerial representatives and four Senior Officials to be selected from the remaining FICs in rotation, the first four to be chosen from Vanuatu, Nauru, Palau and Samoa to be responsible for the affairs, work programme and budget of the OCTA;

7. the CTA as required by FICs shall participate in the PACER-Plus negotiations;

8. Forum Trade Ministers should meet as soon as practicable following the meeting of the Forum Leaders in August 2009 to develop a framework for the PACER-Plus negotiations. This meeting is to take place in the Federated States of Micronesia not later than November 2009. The framework would include:

a) issues of timelines (whether 2, 3 or 5 years) within which the negotiations are to be completed;

b) the identification of issues relating to PACER-Plus arrangements common to all Forum countries; and

c) issues in respect of which the CTA could negotiate, including common issues.

9. annual review of the progress of the PACER-Plus negotiations and the arrangements for the OCTA.


END.