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 discussion papers to consolidate information available to Pacific decision makers and to stimulate wider debate on these issues:

• 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
• Casting the net to define the PACER 'PLUS'

The discussion papers can be downloaded HERE.

Additionally, we continue to work with Pacific island governments and other interested stakeholders to better inform the development and application of trade policy. With funding from the Australian Government, we have undertaken a number of country studies that have included extensive consultations with key national stakeholders. 

A copy of the PACER Plus national study for the Cook Islands has been published on the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration website, and the report can be downloaded here.