Regional Trade Facilitation Programme to be Reviewed
PRESS STATEMENT(96/07)
9th August 2007
REGIONAL TRADE FACILITATION PROGRAMME TO BE REVIEWED
The Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) currently coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is to be reviewed before the end of this year.
The Programme was established in 2004 and was aimed at putting in place an appropriate, efficient and transparent framework of trade facilitation measures in the Pacific region. It sets out to enhance the effectiveness and benefits of trade liberalisation among Forum Members. It currently covers the area of Customs, Quarantine and Standards & Conformance.
At the recent meeting of Forum Trade Ministers in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the Ministers stressed that additional work on the Programme would be subject to the outcomes of the RTFP review to be undertaken in the latter part of 2007.
The review is expected to identify specific issues necessary to enhance current trade facilitation programme and to improve trade facilitation in the areas covered under the current programme. It will assess the degree to which the Programme activities have achieved the defined goals, targets and objectives of the PACER (the Pacific Agreement of Closer Economic Relations with Australia and New Zealand) and to also recommend a revised programme of work with clear objectives, outcomes, plans of actions and budgets for such programmes.
The Ministers agreed that there was a need to ensure close collaboration between the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the implementation of the Integrated Food Standards Project. The Integrated Food Standards Project, which recently commenced under the management of the WHO, aims at protecting human health and facilitating trade in safe and suitable food in today’s global food market by addressing this on a regional perspective. This project is expected to end in April 2009.
In relation to additional work that could be considered under the RTFP, Customs Automation and the need to extend the export commodity pathway activities under the Quarantine component of the Programme to more FICs was also considered by the Ministers.
Ministers also stressed the need for coordination between RTFP and other regional and national trade facilitation. Member countries, which had not yet done so, were urged to activate and support their National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC)-like bodies and the Forum Secretariat to provide technical support in the establishment of the Committees. Improvement in the reporting of the RTFP is also anticipated.
(ENDS)
For more information, contact Sumbue Antas, the Forum’s Trade Facilitation Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email: Sumbuea@forumsec.org.fj.
9th August 2007
REGIONAL TRADE FACILITATION PROGRAMME TO BE REVIEWED
The Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) currently coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is to be reviewed before the end of this year.
The Programme was established in 2004 and was aimed at putting in place an appropriate, efficient and transparent framework of trade facilitation measures in the Pacific region. It sets out to enhance the effectiveness and benefits of trade liberalisation among Forum Members. It currently covers the area of Customs, Quarantine and Standards & Conformance.
At the recent meeting of Forum Trade Ministers in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the Ministers stressed that additional work on the Programme would be subject to the outcomes of the RTFP review to be undertaken in the latter part of 2007.
The review is expected to identify specific issues necessary to enhance current trade facilitation programme and to improve trade facilitation in the areas covered under the current programme. It will assess the degree to which the Programme activities have achieved the defined goals, targets and objectives of the PACER (the Pacific Agreement of Closer Economic Relations with Australia and New Zealand) and to also recommend a revised programme of work with clear objectives, outcomes, plans of actions and budgets for such programmes.
The Ministers agreed that there was a need to ensure close collaboration between the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the implementation of the Integrated Food Standards Project. The Integrated Food Standards Project, which recently commenced under the management of the WHO, aims at protecting human health and facilitating trade in safe and suitable food in today’s global food market by addressing this on a regional perspective. This project is expected to end in April 2009.
In relation to additional work that could be considered under the RTFP, Customs Automation and the need to extend the export commodity pathway activities under the Quarantine component of the Programme to more FICs was also considered by the Ministers.
Ministers also stressed the need for coordination between RTFP and other regional and national trade facilitation. Member countries, which had not yet done so, were urged to activate and support their National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC)-like bodies and the Forum Secretariat to provide technical support in the establishment of the Committees. Improvement in the reporting of the RTFP is also anticipated.
(ENDS)
For more information, contact Sumbue Antas, the Forum’s Trade Facilitation Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email: Sumbuea@forumsec.org.fj.
