‘As A Region We Should Work Together’
Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Premila Kumar was joined by her counterparts from Samoa and Solomon Islands to discuss theme Pacific Trading Nation: from surviving to thriving during a trade seminar yesterday.
The seminar at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Japan-Pacific ICT Theatre was organised by the Government, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and USP.
Minister Kumar lenge of adhering rules.
“Today the World Trade Organisation is being questioned and its effectiveness is being questioned.
“There is this commotion in the trading world. If you look at the region itself, we all understand that international trade is so important for our economic growth but how can we entice them to come to the Pacific if they don’t adhere to the global trading rules?.
“We are in a situation where we need to look beyond just surviving, but how we can thrive. highlighted the chalto the global trading
“It’s always a challenge for the Pacific Island Countries to come together when it comes to trade, because we are all so different, the markets are small based on the capacity of the country,
“Then what the Pacific does is enter into various international trade agreements.” Minister Kumar stressed that as region we should work together to combat such challenges from the global arena.
The Samoan Minister for Commerce, Industry, Trade and Labour Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell spoke on the need to align global agreements with Pacific issues. “What we determine now, determines our future.
“We have to ensure that whatever global agreements we agree to, that the world knows the Pacific region is here and is here to stay.
“It will not change because of that is being put on us.
“The Pacific region is a thriving region and we need to ensure that our agreements and policies are aligned with Pacific issues,” he said.
The Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Jeremiah Manele highlighted the importance of regionalism.
“The issue of capacity is a challenge for pressure many of our countries, hence regionalism and regional co-operation in terms of trade.
“There are a number of trade arrangements out there that are important in terms of trade, economic development and economic integration for our countries.
“Also important is the need for regional co-operation that we have shared those values but it also demands unwavering commitments from all of us to work together to implement these shared goals and values.
“This is in line with the Pacific’s blue principles which calls on the collective empowerment of the Pacific state to work together.
“Trade as we all know is important for the development o our countries.
“We also need to understand what we can do as countries to help the private sector industries to come up with products to compete.
“Some of us may have market access under the various trading arrangements that we have, but we don’t have the products that are competitive in these markets,” said Mr Manele.
Out of 14 Forum Island Countries, only seven have implemented the Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA). This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism Shaheen Ali while officiating at the Pacific African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Trade Officials meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat yesterday.
Mr Ali said since the last Pacific ACP meeting, a lot has happened in the global arena.
“The trade war between the United States and China has weakened the global economy.
“The United Kingdom has formally left the European Union (Brexit).
“Instabilities in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America intensify public anxiety.
“The World Health Organisation declared Coronavirus, an international public health emergency and the impact of climate change is becoming ever more pronounced than ever before.
“Global economic growth shrank from 3.7 per cent in 2018 to 3.2 per cent in 2019, reflecting the link between trade and geopolitical tensions.
Mr Ali added that amidst these global phenomena, it was important to maintain trade bond and solidarity.
“In this regard, we need to start with the implementation of our regional trade agreement.
“PICTA is the only formal trade agreement that provides a pathway to bind the region into a strong trading bloc.
“I am sure you are all aware of the state of the agreement bears direct correlation to that of our integration. We cannot afford to let this agreement fail,” he said.
Economic Partnership Agreement
Mr Ali further noted, with regards to Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), “Post Cotonou and our trade and development relations with EU, I call on us to relook at these issues with vigour and devoid of any remnants of fatigue and frustrations of the past.
“We need to question the current balance of our relationship with the EU when considering committing to the EPAs and negotiating the successor to the Cotonou Agreement.
“The EU has been a crucial development partner in the region. However, they have also taken harmful unilateral actions in declaring some of our tax jurisdictions unfavourable and our fisheries unsustainable.
“Going forward, we would like to see a change in the dynamics of our relations, which should be based on mutual respect and equal partnership.”
Queries sent to the Political, Trade, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific remained unanswered when this edition when to press.