Pacific island nations risk being left behind in the global competition for trade

Trade is increasingly at forefront of international engagement with the region, most recently evident through negotiations with the European Union on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and with Australia and New Zealand on the Pacific and Closer Economic Relations (PACER) agreement.

Within the Pacific, trade is the most prominent example of increasing regional cooperation, with the Pacific-wide Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) coming into effect in 2003, and a free trade agreement between the four members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) negotiated in 2005.

Despite the prominence of trade issues, informed debate within the Pacific is limited. Progress on regional and international initiatives has been slow. There is a lack of considered analysis on the opportunities and threats associated with further integration with increasingly globalised markets. Confusion reigns in terms of strategies to deal with developed country trading partners. Individual countries, and the regional as a whole, lack a broad vision for the way forward.

PiPP has released a series of trade policy briefing papers to consolidate information available to Pacific decision makers and to stimulate wider debate on these issues on the following topics:

• Pacific lessons from the Economic partnership Agreement
• MSG - trading on political capital and Melanesian solidarity
• Beyond fish and coconuts: Trade agreements in the Pacific islands
• Small can be beautiful: The particular needs of micro states in trade policy
• Facilitating better trade outcomes for Pacific island countries
• PACER Plus - The art of negotiation

The papers can be downloaded HERE and will be followed up with a series of discussion forums to include policy makers and interested parties to

• popularise the debate on trade and its impacts on society and the economy;
• inform policy makers and community members on the potential impact of trade
• focus the agenda
• provide material support to guide policy-making.

We will continue to develop this trade series and work with Pacific island governments and other interested stakeholders to better inform the development and application of trade policy.