Samoa
The new agreements cover a range of areas, including education, e-commerce, investment, infrastructure and agriculture.
Samoa becomes the first of the Pacific Island nations and the third country overall to ratify the agreement, known as PACER Plus.
Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker has congratulated Samoa on their ratification of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus).
The African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) – European Union (EU) high level political dialogue on the post- Cotonou agreement is underway at the Taumeasina Island resort, Samoa.
The island states Comoros and Samoa have joined the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the group of countries from their respective regions. The EU now has 40 trade agreements in place with 72 countries.
PACER-Plus is a highly problematic FTA containing far too many concessions by Forum Island Countries to Australia and New Zealand, reshaping Pacific Island economies.
Samoa and Papua New Guinea will represent the Pacific at the Ministerial level central negotiating for the post-Cotonou agreement.
The fifth trade committee under the EU-Pacific states interim EPA brought together Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the European Union. Solomon Islands and the Samoa were invited to participate as observers.
Despite receiving little attention in Australia, efforts to establish a new regional trade agreement are raising eyebrows among Pacific neighbours
The U.S. House International Relations Committee held a hearing on Thursday July 20, 2006 on Asian Free Trade Agreements and questioned if they are good for American businesses and American workers, according to American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.
It has been a relatively easy matter for Pacific Islands Country (PIC)
governments to sign regional trade agreements such as PICTA (Pacific Island
Countries Trade Agreement - excluding Australia and New Zealand) and PACER (Pacific Agreement for Closer Economic Relations - including Australia and NZ.)
