Trade Officials Briefed on EPA Negotiations
PRESS STATEMENT
15th November 2006
PACIFIC ACP TRADE OFFICIALS UPDATED ON EPA NEGOTIATIONS
Trade officials from the Pacific ACP countries met in Port Vila, Vanuatu today to consider an update on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union.
The officials were also updated on the Pacific ACP-EU Goods and Services Offers and Demand Project as well as recommendations of the Pacific ACP Negotiating Group held in Apia, Samoa last June.
They discussed EPA-related Studies and Issues including:
" Potential costs of adjusting to a Pacific EPA;
" 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme related Developments;
" A Market-oriented approach to investment and
" A study on seafarers for Kiribati and Tuvalu.
The PACP Trade Officials also discussed the way forward with the negotiations of the EPA considering an overall Road Map and the 2007 Regional Negotiating Machinery Work Programme and Budget.
They considered the creation of the post of Chief Negotiator for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) with Australia and New Zealand as well as a paper on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights.
A paper was also presented on the PACPS and trade with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Japan as well as an update on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues.
Recommendations on the above issues will be submitted to the PACP Ministers of Trade when they meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu tomorrow.
ENDS.
For more information contact Mr Johnson Honimae, the Forum's Media Officer at the Le Meridian Resort, Port Vila on phone: 678 - 22040 Exts: 8024/8025 or fax: 678 - 23340
15th November 2006
PACIFIC ACP TRADE OFFICIALS UPDATED ON EPA NEGOTIATIONS
Trade officials from the Pacific ACP countries met in Port Vila, Vanuatu today to consider an update on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union.
The officials were also updated on the Pacific ACP-EU Goods and Services Offers and Demand Project as well as recommendations of the Pacific ACP Negotiating Group held in Apia, Samoa last June.
They discussed EPA-related Studies and Issues including:
" Potential costs of adjusting to a Pacific EPA;
" 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme related Developments;
" A Market-oriented approach to investment and
" A study on seafarers for Kiribati and Tuvalu.
The PACP Trade Officials also discussed the way forward with the negotiations of the EPA considering an overall Road Map and the 2007 Regional Negotiating Machinery Work Programme and Budget.
They considered the creation of the post of Chief Negotiator for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) with Australia and New Zealand as well as a paper on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights.
A paper was also presented on the PACPS and trade with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Japan as well as an update on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues.
Recommendations on the above issues will be submitted to the PACP Ministers of Trade when they meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu tomorrow.
ENDS.
For more information contact Mr Johnson Honimae, the Forum's Media Officer at the Le Meridian Resort, Port Vila on phone: 678 - 22040 Exts: 8024/8025 or fax: 678 - 23340
