ISDS Case Map
PICTA
Under pressure to sign on to new free trade agreements, Pacific Islands governments interested in securing positive outcomes for their peoples see deals on labour mobility as potential development gains. But is this the right approach? And what are the potential costs?
The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) has written to the interim Government to include workers in talks regarding the various trade agreements Fiji is treaty to.
Tuvalu has become the 11th Pacific Forum Country to ratify the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA).
Senior trade officials from around the Pacific region will finalise trade deals as an extension to the existing Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement by October.
The Pacific Network on Globalisation warned Pacific governments to be wary of viewing Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement as "stepping stone" towards free trade deals with rich nations.
According to the organizers, this year's US-NZ Partnership Forum will in part focus on the, “potential for the United States and New Zealand to cooperate on ... economic development and sustainability in the Asia Pacific region.”
This study was prompted by concern among some of the smaller Forum
Island Countries about the impact of the introduction of the Pacific
Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) on their local economies and,
specifically, the impact of a reduction in tariffs on government revenues.
Palau's president, Tommy Remengesau, believes the Pacific Islands Forum - comprising 16 independent countries of the Pacific including Australia and New Zealand - is introducing free trade into the region in the wrong way.
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.
This article is an introduction or guide to PICTA, PACER and the WTO in the Pacific. The 'guide' gives readers basic knowledge of both trade agreements and the stepping stone function they provide towards the WTO re-colonising the Pacific.
