Consultants Review Niue’s Pacer Plus Agreement
Ballingal told BCN News that one of the key challenges they heard from the Niue stakeholders is the labour force limitations which is something PACER Plus as a trade agreement can assist with .
A 2 member independent consultant team is here on the island reviewing the Pacer Plus Agreement that came into force three years ago. John Ballingal and Dr Tracy Epps have been speaking to Niue PACER Plus contact points in government agencies and local businesses.
PACER Plus entered into force on 13 December 2020. Ten countries are Parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Nauru has signed the agreement but has not ratified.
Consultant John Ballingal says they have been visiting member countries in the region in this review and are pleased with the level of awareness of the agreement with Niue businesses which is not always the case in other countries.
Ballingal told BCN News that one of the key challenges they heard from the Niue stakeholders is the labour force limitations which is something PACER Plus as a trade agreement can assist with.
On the issue of barriers or restrictions that are proving challenging including the high cost of living and access to healthy food options such as fish, fruits and vegetables from other Pacific countries, Ballingal explains that these challenges are quite difficult structural problems for member countries but perhaps through PACER Plus they can be addressed.
PACER Plus is a trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand and Pacific islands nations. Eight Pacific island countries are party to this agreement, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands Tonga and Vanuatu. Nauru has signed but yet to ratify.
The opportunity is there for other Pacific nations like Fiji and PNG to join when their governments are ready to be a party to the PACER Plus trade agreement.
