2011 FTMM: Pacific prioritises WTO engagement

2011 FTMM: Pacific prioritises WTO engagement

PRESS STATEMENT 34/11
Thursday, 19th May 2011

Engaging with the World Trade Organisation (WTO)remains a priority for the Pacific region.

Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers were provided with an update on the operations and long-term plans of the Office of the Pacific Islands Forum Permanent Delegation to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)when they met this week in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga.

“We continue to strengthen our Geneva Office in recognition of the significant impact of WTO rules on the economies of Forum Island Countries, as well as the need to promote the effective participation of our nations, particularly non-WTO members, in WTO negotiations,” explained Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade.

Of the 14 Forum Island Countries, four - Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga - are WTO Members and two Observers – Samoa and Vanuatu – are in the process of acceding to the WTO.

“Provision of technical advice to FIC-WTO Members and Observers remains the highest priority of the office,” said the Forum’s Permanent Representative to the Geneva Office, Mrs Aivu Tauvasa.

Mrs Tauvasa highlighted, however, that FICs who are not WTO members are just as affected by WTO’s far-reaching rules and negotiations.

“Most of the region’s trading partners are Members of WTO, and therefore bound by WTO rules. This means that the outcomes of WTO negotiations have implications for all FICs, including those that are not presently members of the WTO.

“Negotiations such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), PACER Plus with Australia and New Zealand, and the broadening of PICTA must necessarily result in WTO-compatible agreements. Meaningful advocacy of FIC interests can, therefore, only take place from within the WTO system.”

Following the decision of Forum Leaders in 1999 and recommendations of a Commonwealth Secretariat study, the Geneva Office was established in 2004 as a cost-effective means of permanent representation for the FICs.

“I would greatly encourage FIC-WTO Members and Observers, and even Forum Island Countries who are not WTO members, to engage with the Geneva Office,” added Mrs Tauvasa. “The Geneva Office is there to serve the region’s needs in engaging with WTO on important trade matters that will, at the end of the day, have a resonating impact on the lives of our people.”

Mrs Tauvasa also pointed out that the Geneva Office is well placed geographically to facilitate greater engagement between FICs and development agencies in Europe.

“Providing a link to Aid for Trade opportunities in Europe, for instance, is an area the Geneva Office may be able to further assist FICs.”

ENDS

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