This comes as New Zealand last week became the first country to ratify the deal that has also been signed by nine Pacific countries and Australia. If you would like to participate, visit the project page . PACER Plus is a free trade agreement between members of the Pacific Islands Forum (the Forum Island Countries plus Australia and New Zealand). Queries regarding this release can be directed to Antonina.Browne@cookislands.gov.ck The eleven countries who have signed the PACER Plus Agreement are Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands… RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, April 28, 2017) – The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus deal is as much about development as it is about trade for the Cook Islands, says prime minister Henry Puna. As Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said, “We are certain that PACER Plus will open new trade and investment opportunities for the Cook Islands that have not existed before. The Governments of Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the ... Recalling the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER), done at Nauru on ... the Parties resolve that PACER Plus must be a development tool for PACER Plus covers trade in goods (rules of origin and verification procedures, customs procedures, biosecurity Pacific regional trade and development agreement PACER Plus will enter into force in 60 days now that the required eight countries have ratified it. A Canadian analyst says a regional free trade agreement in the Pacific will assault Pacific island economies and give China a strategic opening in the region. Australia, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand have now ratified. For the past three years, the Cook Islands has been working to put in place legal and other arrangements to enable the Government to ratify the Agreement. The broader regional economic picture Cook Islands was the eighth country to ratify PACER Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia. After more than a decade of negotiations, the region's PACER Plus free trade deal is set to start on December the 13th. The regional free trade agreement, PACER Plus, will come into force on December 13. The Cook Islands is the eighth signatory of PACER Plus to ratify the Agreement, thus bringing the Agreement into force with the Cook Islands being one of the original parties. Cook Islands finance minister Mark Brown The Pacific Islands Trade Portal An online information system to facilitate the implementation of the PACER plus Agreement. Prime Minister Mark Brown has today signed the Cook Islands’ Instrument of Ratification for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) following completion of domestic processes and approval by Cabinet this morning. "To assist Pacific Island countries' agencies, such as their trade agencies, such as their customs agencies, such as their quarantine agencies to be up to speed with any requirements for compliance that is needed in terms of their inwards trade as well as their outwards trade.". The remaining signatories yet to ratify are Nauru, Tuvalu and … As Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said, “We are certain that PACER Plus will open new trade and investment opportunities for the Cook Islands that have not existed before. Australia, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand have now ratified. "PACER Plus will make trade easier for signatories to the agreement, which will grow jobs, boost sustainable economic growth and contribute to a safer and more prosperous Pacific," David Parker said. PACER Plus is due to enter into force on 13 December 2020, and will mark the largest free trade agreement (FTA) to … The Cook Islands delegation to the PACER Plus meetings also participated in the Pacific ACP Trade Officials and Ministers Meetings, as well as the Forum Trade Officials and Ministers Meetings. This will impact the current Post-Cotonou negotiations between the Pacific islands and Europe, which are set to be concluded at the end of the year. The Agreement entered into force on 13 December 2020. End. PACER Plus negotiations began in 2009 and ended in 2017 with the Cook Islands and other Forum Members signing the Agreement at a special ceremony in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on 14 June 2017. Prior to entry into force of the Agreement in December, MFAI will coordinate a final round of national consultations to explain key provisions of the Final Agreement and identify trade-related needs. Photo: Cook Islands News. Cook Islands was the eighth country to ratify the agreement on 14 October 2020, triggering the 60-day countdown for PACER Plus to enter into force. Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna has signalled his government will shortly ratify a major regional trade agreement. Launching of PACER PLUS Project November 14, 2019 The PACER PLUS Project for the Implementation of the Pacific Trade & Customs Harmonisation Project was officially launched on 14 th of November, 2019 in Honiara, Solomon Islands by the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands. Cook Islands to ratify PACER Plus The PACER Plus trade deal is led by New Zealand and Australia and has nine Pacific Island signatories, but only Samoa has ratified it . By Rashneel Kumar RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, April 28, 2017) – The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus deal is as much about development as it is about trade for the Cook Islands, says prime minister Henry Puna. Last October, the Cook Islands put its ratification on hold over fears it would miss out on economic assistance when it … Relevance to Pacer Plus Pacer Plus negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2017, with 11 countries signing the Agreement. Tonga's government has committed to ratifying the Pacer Plus trade deal. Cook Islands recently became the eighth country to ratify Pacer Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia. Pacer Plus set to come on stream later this year - Cooks Deputy PM. PACER Plus is due to enter into force on 13 December 2020, and will mark the largest free trade agreement (FTA) to … Eleven Pacific Island countries are signatories to PACER Plus – Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Pacific Islands Forum means the Pacific Islands Forum, as referred to in the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; 1 For the purposes of this Agreement, for the Cook Islands, nationality means a person belonging to the part of As Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said, “We are certain that PACER Plus will open new trade and investment opportunities for the Cook Islands that have not existed before. “PACER Plus ready to go sends a very strong message that the Pacific region and New Zealand are ready to do business,’ Fiso John Fiso said. Cook Islands to formally ratify Pacer Plus in June, Sport: PNG sailor takes dad's lead in pursuing Olympic dream, PACER deal will hurt Pacific, strengthen China - analyst, Samoa Parliament mourns death of first term MP, PNG Covid cases now at 843 after new spate of cases, Climate vulnerability assessment underway in Bougainville atolls, Councillor disgusted by comments over reo Māori karakia at Grey Power meeting, Trump pardons Steve Bannon, considers starting new political party, $24m flood protection and bridge project in Franz Josef under review, Iwi protesting Shelly Bay sale serve developer with trespass notice. Eight countries are Parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Pacer Plus set to come on stream later this year - Cooks Deputy PM. (Source: RNZ pacific news Given the entry of PACER Plus into force it will now … The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus, or PACER Plus, will start after the Cook Islands became the eighth signatory to formally ratify the deal this week. In recent years MFAI has been proactive in consulting with national stakeholders from the public and private sectors and civil society about the Agreement. PACER Plus is within the scope of WikiProject Australia, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Australia and Australia-related topics. This assistance is now being extended to PACER Plus parties: Kiribati, Cook Islands and Niue, along with existing support for Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. For more information or queries contact MediaOCO@ocosec.org. Eleven countries signed the agreement. PACER Plus negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2017. Pacer Plus countries currently include Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. By the middle of the year the required number of countries are expected to have ratified it, allowing the deal to come into force. The 22 officers from Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Tonga, Niue, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands who are participants of the training will receive updated technical information on PACER Plus Rules of Origin and its application. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker welcomed the announcement that the Cook Islands is the eighth nation to ratify this landmark agreement. As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead.” Cook Islands National Security Policy will be released at a time when its need to work on the Pacer Plus will be pronounced. PACER Plus is a regional trade, development and economic cooperation agreement between Pacific Island Countries and Australia and New Zealand covering trade in goods, services and investment. As Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said, “We are certain that PACER Plus will open new trade and investment opportunities for the Cook Islands that have not existed before. Samoa has ratified a major Pacific free trade agreement, edging it closer to rollout. PACER Plus is due to enter into force on 13 December 2020, and will mark the largest free trade agreement (FTA) to focus on trade amongst Pacific Island nations. ... Tonga, Solomon Islands, Niue and Cook Islands. In PACER Plus there are broad clauses that require the Pacific to pass on any better treatment they give to a third-party to Australia and New Zealand as well. PACER Plus Ministers Communique Category: Financial Secretary Office News As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead. The remaining signatories that are yet to ratify are Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Quoting Radio New Zealand – 21 February 2020 “The trade deal known as Pacer Plus will have immediate benefits for the Cook Islands when it comes into force later this year, says the Cooks' deputy prime minister. 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