First in-person PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting Convened in Brisbane
The PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting was held today in Brisbane, Australia, marking the first in-person gathering of Ministers since the PACER Plus Agreement entered into force in December 2020.
16 November 2024. The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Ministerial Meeting was held yesterday, Friday 15 November, in Brisbane, Australia, marking the first in-person gathering of Ministers since the PACER Plus Agreement entered into force in December 2020.
The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Leota Laki Lamositele, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour of Samoa, and brought together Ministers and senior officials from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The Ministers discussed the future of trade and investment under the Agreement, which came into effect during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reflecting on the journey since the Agreement's first meeting in February 2020, Ministers reaffirmed the foundational importance of PACER Plus in strengthening economic partnerships, fostering sustainable development, and promoting regional economic integration.
PACER Plus, which emerged during unprecedented global health and economic challenges, has proven instrumental in supporting Pacific nations' resilience and recovery through trade liberalisation and capacity building.
Australia's Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, Hon. Tim Ayres (left), at the PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting 2024 in Brisbane, Australia.
Australia's Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, Hon. Tim Ayres, highlighted the significance of the Agreement: "PACER Plus is not a traditional Free Trade Agreement. It is a facilitative Agreement that makes the region stronger together.
Australia is ambitious for the region and rightly so – we recognise our role in supporting ambitions for regional economic prosperity. PACER Plus is an important framework for this, bringing our governments together to make good decisions collectively."
The Ministers acknowledged the work of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) in supporting the Parties to implement the Agreement.
The Ministers also acknowledged the importance of the DEC Work Programme, which has provided vital support to Pacific countries, improving trade capacity and strengthening regional cooperation.
They commended the strong engagement by PACER Plus Parties, who have leveraged the DEC Work Programme to boost their trade capabilities and build a more robust enabling environment for businesses.
Recognising the role of the private sector as the key driver of trade, PACER Plus Ministers and their representatives called for intensified efforts to support private sector development.
They tasked the PPIU with accelerating the implementation of the DEC Work Programme and refining its approach to private sector engagement.
Ministers expressed their in-principle support for renewing the Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus for another five years beyond December 2025, calling for reforms to ensure its continued effectiveness in addressing the unique needs of Pacific Island economies.
The meeting was also attended by Nauru, a PACER Plus signatory, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat who participated as observers.
