Press Release (18/10)
19th March 2010

Senior officials from Pacific Island Countries met in Nadi, Fiji from 11-13 March 2010 for the fourth round of negotiations of a trade in services agreement to broaden their commitments under the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA).

In acknowledging the efforts of the Trade Officials, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade said that the fourth round of PICTA trade in services negotiations has allowed the countries to engage in extensive discussion on their PICTA trade in services offers tabled so far.

“Officials negotiated the revised legal text that seeks to broaden PICTA to include trade in services, and exchanged the revised offers and requests based on feedback received following the third round of negotiations,” Mr Slade said.

He added: “I am pleased to note the progress made so far by the Pacific Island Countries on the technical discussion on the comprehensive schedules of commitments on trade in services and the proposed concept for the temporary movement of natural persons within the Pacific Islands.”

A number of countries also engaged in bilateral discussions at the meeting with interested parties to discuss their requests and offers further with the objective of having access to specific services sectors of the other Pacific Island countries.

Officials acknowledged the need for further work as they progress with the PICTA trade in services negotiations. As they revise their offers and requests, the officials agreed to engage in intensive consultations with the relevant authorities, and non-state actors, including the private sector over the next few months before reconvening for the fifth round of negotiations, in September 2010.

ENDS.
For further information, please contact Dr Chakriya Bowman, Director Economic Governance at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.