Forum Trade Ministers' Meeting concludes
PRESS STATEMENT 72/08
22 July 2008
FORUM TRADE MINISTERS MEETING
Edgewater Resort
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Forum Ministers responsible for trade met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on 22 July 2008 to consider and make decisions on a number of trade-related issues of great importance to the region. Those issues included participation by Forum Island Countries (FICs) in the World Trade Organization (WTO), progress and status of the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) and deepening trade and economic cooperation between all Forum Members (PACER Plus). Ministers also considered the proposal for the office of a Chief Trade Advisor (CTA) to assist FICs in their preparations for and conduct of future PACER Plus negotiations.
WTO Issues
Ministers reiterated their support for the activities of the Forum WTO Office in Geneva, which advocates FIC interests in the WTO and provides capacity building activities for the FICs. In doing so, Ministers recognised the need for continuity in the financing of the Office on a cost-sharing basis and the need for support from development partners to finance the Office. It was agreed that a donor roundtable meeting be convened later in the year to discuss possible funding options for the Office.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
Ministers stressed the importance of protecting and advocating for Traditional Knowledge (TK) and IPRs and welcomed the early commencement of a study on the possible establishment of a regional institution for that purpose as mandated by Forum Leaders.
Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP)
Ministers reaffirmed their support to the programme of work on trade facilitation under the RTFP. Ministers agreed on a course of action to enhance the effectiveness of the Programme, including the formal establishment of a Steering Committee to oversee the activities of RTFP. Ministers welcomed the announcement by New Zealand of a further contribution of NZ$500,000 to fund RTFP activities for 2008-2009.
PACER-related Issues
Ministers reaffirmed that PACER Plus be more than a typical FTA, with sufficient flexibility to take account of different capacity, country contexts and stages of development in the region.
Ministers directed that work on PACER Plus be continued through informal discussions over the coming months. Australia and New Zealand offered to organise and fund three further informal discussions. The first of these informal discussions will be held before the end of the year.
Ministers discussed the proposal mandated by Pacific ACP Leaders for an Office of the CTA to support the FICs in their engagement in PACER Plus.
Australia announced a trade fellowship programme to assist in the capacity building of the FICs, involving provision of training to one official from each FIC, starting in September 2008. Australia also announced the availability of a facility for the FICs to undertake national studies to inform their engagement in PACER Plus. New Zealand announced the funding of a study on the assessment of the capacity of Non-State Actors (NSA) to engage in PACER Plus discussions and its willingness to fund further capacity-building workshops for FIC officials.
(Ends)
22 July 2008
FORUM TRADE MINISTERS MEETING
Edgewater Resort
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Forum Ministers responsible for trade met in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on 22 July 2008 to consider and make decisions on a number of trade-related issues of great importance to the region. Those issues included participation by Forum Island Countries (FICs) in the World Trade Organization (WTO), progress and status of the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) and deepening trade and economic cooperation between all Forum Members (PACER Plus). Ministers also considered the proposal for the office of a Chief Trade Advisor (CTA) to assist FICs in their preparations for and conduct of future PACER Plus negotiations.
WTO Issues
Ministers reiterated their support for the activities of the Forum WTO Office in Geneva, which advocates FIC interests in the WTO and provides capacity building activities for the FICs. In doing so, Ministers recognised the need for continuity in the financing of the Office on a cost-sharing basis and the need for support from development partners to finance the Office. It was agreed that a donor roundtable meeting be convened later in the year to discuss possible funding options for the Office.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
Ministers stressed the importance of protecting and advocating for Traditional Knowledge (TK) and IPRs and welcomed the early commencement of a study on the possible establishment of a regional institution for that purpose as mandated by Forum Leaders.
Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP)
Ministers reaffirmed their support to the programme of work on trade facilitation under the RTFP. Ministers agreed on a course of action to enhance the effectiveness of the Programme, including the formal establishment of a Steering Committee to oversee the activities of RTFP. Ministers welcomed the announcement by New Zealand of a further contribution of NZ$500,000 to fund RTFP activities for 2008-2009.
PACER-related Issues
Ministers reaffirmed that PACER Plus be more than a typical FTA, with sufficient flexibility to take account of different capacity, country contexts and stages of development in the region.
Ministers directed that work on PACER Plus be continued through informal discussions over the coming months. Australia and New Zealand offered to organise and fund three further informal discussions. The first of these informal discussions will be held before the end of the year.
Ministers discussed the proposal mandated by Pacific ACP Leaders for an Office of the CTA to support the FICs in their engagement in PACER Plus.
Australia announced a trade fellowship programme to assist in the capacity building of the FICs, involving provision of training to one official from each FIC, starting in September 2008. Australia also announced the availability of a facility for the FICs to undertake national studies to inform their engagement in PACER Plus. New Zealand announced the funding of a study on the assessment of the capacity of Non-State Actors (NSA) to engage in PACER Plus discussions and its willingness to fund further capacity-building workshops for FIC officials.
(Ends)
