ISDS Case Map
Pacific Islands / Pacific Forum
The Pacific Forum has for the first time publicly admitted there have been problems in sealing an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
The Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN) and AID/WATCH are pleased to invite you to a strategy workshop on the FTAs entitled: “To Oppose FTAs: Making People Matter”, that will take place on September 4-6, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The Strategy Workshop on the FTAs is an open and public gathering of trade campaigners within the region specifically timed to coincide with the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Sydney.
Australia says it wants trade rights in the South Pacific equal to those being negotiated by the European Union.
Pacific Islands Countries need to develop technically sound demands in negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) says Deputy Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Peter Forau.
With only six months left for the African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc of states to have its economic partnership agreement with the European Union negotiated, sealed and signed, the 14 Pacific members of the alliance are more worried about word usage.
A meeting in August is likely to explore the possibility of a free trade agreement between Pacific Island countries and New Zealand and Australia but rapid progress is not expected.
Australia and New Zealand will begin discussions in August to strike a free trade deal with a group of Pacific island nations.
In an recent article headlined “Economic Partnership Agreements: tackling the myths”, the European Union's trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, sought to justify the EU's position on agreements being negotiated with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
Ousted foreign affairs minister Kaliopate Tavola could be called to lead the Pacific's Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) talks with the European Union.
Intransigence of positions and unfolding of more "red lines" by bureaucrats at the European Commission (EC) could jeopardise the region's hopes of securing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, outgoing chief negotiator of the Pacific, Kaliopate Tavola has warned.
