Australia And New Zealand Called On To Address Trade Gap With FICs
PRESS STATEMENT (91/07)
2nd August 2007
Australia And New Zealand Called On To Address Trade Gap With FICs
Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Ham Lini Vanuroroa has urged Australia and New Zealand to address the trading gap both countries have with the neighbouring Forum Island Countries.
Opening the Forum Trade Ministers meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu today, Mr Lini said Forum Trade Ministers agreed in 2005 on the need to give serious consideration to the deepening Forum-wide trade arrangements in light of regional and international developments.
This included the commissioning of preliminary studies on the likely effect of such arrangements on Forum Island Countries revenue, domestic industries and competition.
A Baseline study and a Gap Analysis report has done been done for the consideration of the Ministers.
"The Baseline study and the Gap Analysis report has provided information on the extent of trade between the Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand, and the extent to which gaps exist in terms of developing the capacity in the FICs to engage in liberalized trade with Australia and New Zealand," Mr Lini said
"It is hoped that Australia and New Zealand, our developmental partners of the region, will step forward to address the existing gaps identified in the report."
"It is common knowledge that trade between Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand is decidedly unbalanced toward imports in Forum Island Countries," Prime Minister Lini said.
He added: "It is my honest opinion that if we are serious about depending on Forum-wide trade and successfully move beyond PACER (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations), we need to pay serious attention to a meaningful Free Trade Agreement between Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand that reflect the needs of the FICs and address the development aspirations."
"I am referring to a Free Trade Agreement that includes among other things, services liberalized, including the temporary movement of skilled, semi skilled and unskilled labour."
Prime Minister Lini commended New Zealand "for coming forward and meeting the long held demands of the Pacific Island countries on Labour Mobility through the Recognized Seasonal Employment scheme."
"I urge Australia to consider the same. I also invite Australia to use this meeting in Vanuatu as the beginning of discussions on a possible labour mobility scheme," Mr Lini said.
ENDS.
2nd August 2007
Australia And New Zealand Called On To Address Trade Gap With FICs
Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Ham Lini Vanuroroa has urged Australia and New Zealand to address the trading gap both countries have with the neighbouring Forum Island Countries.
Opening the Forum Trade Ministers meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu today, Mr Lini said Forum Trade Ministers agreed in 2005 on the need to give serious consideration to the deepening Forum-wide trade arrangements in light of regional and international developments.
This included the commissioning of preliminary studies on the likely effect of such arrangements on Forum Island Countries revenue, domestic industries and competition.
A Baseline study and a Gap Analysis report has done been done for the consideration of the Ministers.
"The Baseline study and the Gap Analysis report has provided information on the extent of trade between the Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand, and the extent to which gaps exist in terms of developing the capacity in the FICs to engage in liberalized trade with Australia and New Zealand," Mr Lini said
"It is hoped that Australia and New Zealand, our developmental partners of the region, will step forward to address the existing gaps identified in the report."
"It is common knowledge that trade between Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand is decidedly unbalanced toward imports in Forum Island Countries," Prime Minister Lini said.
He added: "It is my honest opinion that if we are serious about depending on Forum-wide trade and successfully move beyond PACER (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations), we need to pay serious attention to a meaningful Free Trade Agreement between Forum Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand that reflect the needs of the FICs and address the development aspirations."
"I am referring to a Free Trade Agreement that includes among other things, services liberalized, including the temporary movement of skilled, semi skilled and unskilled labour."
Prime Minister Lini commended New Zealand "for coming forward and meeting the long held demands of the Pacific Island countries on Labour Mobility through the Recognized Seasonal Employment scheme."
"I urge Australia to consider the same. I also invite Australia to use this meeting in Vanuatu as the beginning of discussions on a possible labour mobility scheme," Mr Lini said.
ENDS.
