"PACER Plus"

At the Forum Leaders' Meeting in 2009, Leaders decided:

Leaders agreed to the recommendation from Forum Trade Ministers to commence PACER Plus negotiations forthwith.

Leaders welcomed the decision by Trade Ministers to establish the Office of Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA) along the lines outlined in the Apia FTMM decision. They affirmed their wish for Forum Trade Ministers to meet as soon as practicable after the Forum Leaders meeting and no later than November, and welcomed the offer from the Federated States of Micronesia to host this meeting.

Leaders directed that the Trade Ministers should discuss a framework for PACER Plus negotiations including timelines; identification of issues; and issues in respect of which the CTA could negotiate. Leaders affirmed the need for an annual review of progress of the PACER Plus negotiations and the arrangements for the OCTA. Leaders noted the need for Forum Island Countries to undertake national consultations with all stakeholders and capacity building for the negotiations.

Leaders agreed that consistent with the Forum's decisions, the Fiji military regime would not participate in the PACER Plus negotiations. However, Leaders agreed to a mechanism for Fiji to be kept informed on the negotiations. In this mechanism, Fiji officials will be briefed in Suva following each negotiating meeting by a representative from the meeting, with the representative also able to convey back to the next meeting any views from Fiji.

DET held a consultation on PACER-related issues with stakeholders in Honiara on 30th July 2009. Further consultation is likely to follow shortly. Background material on PACER Plus is available here:

• A Status Update prepared by the DET for national stakeholders in July 2009;
• A press release summarising views expressed during the 30th July meeting.
• A Joint Roadmap agreed by officials from 15 Forum countries but thrown out by Ministers in Apia in June 2009.
• A proposal for an Office of the Chief Trade Advisor to assist FICs during the negotiation, agreed by PACP Trade Ministers in June 2009, but disregarded by Forum Leaders in August 2009.

The following reports have been released about PACER Plus by third parties:

The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is a non-governmental organisation based in Fiji which focuses on Pacific trade issues. “Speaking Truth to Power”, released in July 2009, “exposes the often secret world of regional trade discussions — where meetings between Pacific government officials and their Australian and New Zealand counterparts are held 'behind closed doors'”. The report contains a detailed account of the lead-up to the launch of negotiations in August, 2009.

Download Report (PDF)

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is a body representing Australian NGOs working in international aid and development. The report emphasises UNCTAD research which warns of various dangers to developing countries of attempting to pursue economic development through bound liberalisation.

Download Report (PDF)

Oxfam is a global NGO engaged in a range of projects and advocacy to fight poverty and injustice. They take an active interest in trade issues. The report outlines various alternatives to the standard model of a WTO-compatible trade in goods agreement, and emphasises more development-oriented alternatives for an economic cooperation agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Download Report (PDF) (472kb)

The Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) is a regional economic think-tank based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. This briefing paper discusses the possible content of a PACER Plus agreement and the differing attitude to negotiations of the Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand.

Download Report (PDF)