The Pacific Regional Advanced Trade in Goods Workshop, a key event aimed at enhancing trade capabilities in the Pacific region, has concluded successfully. Organized collaboratively by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the three-day workshop occurred from August 12 to 14, 2024.
Participants included government representatives from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, who aimed to deepen their understanding of the rules-based trading system, WTO agreements, and the opportunities and challenges presented to Pacific Island nations. The discussions also covered the complexities surrounding regional and multinational trade agreements, such as PACER Plus, and their applications in the region.
Mr. Colin Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Solomon Islands, highlighted PACER Plus’s role in automating customs and enhancing biosecurity measures across the islands in his opening remarks.
“PACER Plus has the potential to be a highly valuable tool for our development, but it is essential for our countries to take the lead on initiating most of these projects. We have an opportunity to enhance the delivery of programs under PACER Plus, ensuring they genuinely meet the needs of our people,” Mr. Beck stated.
Mr. Andrew Schloeffel, Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to the Solomon Islands, underscored the critical role trade plays in fostering resilient economies and sustainable growth throughout the Pacific.
“Under PACER Plus, all participating nations enjoy tariff- and quota-free access to Australia. This encompasses all product lines, and all exported goods arrive duty-free. This commitment remains unaffected by the level of development of any member nation,” Mr. Schloeffel said.
The workshop forms part of broader capacity-building efforts in the Pacific region, aimed at promoting economic integration of Pacific Island nations into the global trading system and enhancing comprehension of trade-related issues.