Suggested headline: Papua New Guinea urges New Zealand to negotiate a bilateral CEPA, rejects PACER Plus
Papua New Guinea is pressing New Zealand to enter talks on a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), arguing existing regional trade arrangements do not reflect PNG’s economic scale or development priorities.
Trade Minister Richard Maru told PMN News that after 50 years of diplomatic relations it is time to “reset the relationship and elevate it to the next level.” Maru said PNG has received a draft CEPA with the United Arab Emirates and now wants New Zealand to be its next CEPA partner. “Not a PACER Plus, we’re not interested in PACER Plus, we are interested in a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” he said.
Maru criticised PACER Plus — the regional trade and development pact involving Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Island countries — as privileging Australia and New Zealand and overlooking the needs of larger Pacific economies such as PNG. He noted PNG’s greater population, landmass and resource endowments and pointed to a perceived 10-to-1 trade advantage in New Zealand’s favour. Maru said PNG wants an agreement that addresses its priorities, including specific labour-mobility outcomes: “We want a certain number of Papua New Guineans to be employed in New Zealand.”
The minister also called for more regular, structured engagement with New Zealand akin to PNG’s routine meetings with Australian ministers, and urged New Zealand to concentrate its resources on areas of comparative strength. He argued governments can be “smart in [their] spending” by using knowledge and wisdom to prioritise initiatives that deliver real economic benefits.
Context and related developments
– PNG’s push for a bilateral CEPA comes as other partners, including the UAE and the European Union, have been active in negotiating CEPAs. New Zealand has itself been advancing a CEPA with the UAE.
– Papua New Guinea and New Zealand have recently sought to refresh their bilateral relationship. High-level contacts between leaders have focused on trade, investment, labour mobility (including the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme), education and security, and a refreshed Statement of Partnership has been pursued to generate tangible cooperation.
– New Zealand leaders have shown willingness to support PNG in areas such as public sector capacity and disaster preparedness, signalling avenues for deeper technical and institutional collaboration if negotiations proceed.
Short summary
Papua New Guinea’s trade minister has formally asked New Zealand to negotiate a bilateral CEPA tailored to PNG’s needs, rejecting PACER Plus as unequal. PNG points to its larger economy and resources, seeks concrete labour-mobility and market outcomes, and wants more regular ministerial engagement with New Zealand.
Hopeful perspective
A bespoke CEPA could offer a practical way to modernise and deepen the PNG–New Zealand relationship by aligning trade rules, labour mobility and development support with PNG’s priorities. If New Zealand focuses on areas of comparative strength—market access, capacity building and targeted migration pathways—both countries could secure mutually beneficial, measurable outcomes without large additional budgets.
Practical suggestions for negotiators or policymakers
– Prioritise clear, measurable outcomes (e.g., agreed quotas or pathways for PNG workers, agricultural market access, and targeted technical assistance).
– Design implementation support tied to capacity-building to ensure PNG can meet export standards and seize market opportunities.
– Establish a regular ministerial or senior-official dialogue schedule to monitor implementation and adjust cooperation as needed.
– Consider complementary regional cooperation where bilateral arrangements are insufficient — for example, coordinated aid-for-trade programs that leverage New Zealand’s strengths while protecting PNG’s development priorities.
Additional editorial notes for publication
– Suggested pull quote: “We want an agreement that caters for our needs…we want a certain number of Papua New Guineans to be employed in New Zealand.” — Trade Minister Richard Maru
– Suggested tags: Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, CEPA, PACER Plus, trade, labour mobility, Pacific diplomacy
– Suggested image ideas: PNG and New Zealand flags, ministers meeting, or a market/port scene to illustrate trade
Logical comment
PNG’s preference for bilateral CEPA talks reflects a strategic choice to secure bespoke terms rather than compromise under a broader regional deal. Larger or resource-rich Pacific economies may seek individualized arrangements to ensure trade and mobility outcomes better match their development plans; bilateral CEPA structures can offer that flexibility but require political will and negotiating capacity on both sides.
Leave a comment