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. Eight “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. "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. 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. 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. Eleven countries signed the agreement. After more than a decade of negotiations, the region's PACER Plus free trade deal is set to start on December the 13th. Pacer Plus countries currently include Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Given the entry of PACER Plus into force it will now … 9:35 am on 21 February 2020. We are certain that PACER Plus will open new trade and investment opportunities for the Cook Islands that have not existed before. On signing the Instrument of Ratification, Prime Minister Brown stressed the importance of PACER Plus for the Cook Islands: “economic diversification is a cornerstone of our development strategy and international trade policy must be an important strategic tool we use to strengthen and diversify our economy. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. The Agreement entered into force on 13 December 2020. The Cook Islands Trade Portal is a trade facilitation platform implemented by the government of the Cook Islands, in the context of the PACER Plus agreement, with technical assistance from UNCTAD and funding from Australia and New The PACER Plus trade deal is led by New Zealand and Australia and has nine Pacific Island signatories, but only Samoa has ratified it. Relevance to Pacer Plus Pacer Plus negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2017, with 11 countries signing the Agreement. Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand have now ratified. 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. Cook Islands finance minister Mark Brown 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. About OCO: OCO is a grouping of 23 customs administrations in the Pacific region. Last October, the Cook Islands put its ratification on hold over fears it would miss out on economic assistance when it … PACER Plus is an agreement that has been sold as a positive development outcome for Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Photo: Cook Islands News. “It also remains open to accession by Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu which have signed but not ratified, and likewise to other Pacific Island countries such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea which are yet to sign the agreement. Eight countries have now ratified PACER Plus – Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. 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. “PACER Plus enters into force for Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga,” Minister Littleproud said. 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. (Source: RNZ pacific news 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. Eight ratifications are needed to bring the trade agreement into force. PACER Plus is due to enter into force on 13 December 2020, and will mark the largest free trade agreement (FTA) to … As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead. 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. As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead.” Eight countries are need to ratify the trade agreement to bring it into force. Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. If you would like to participate, visit the project page . The broader regional economic picture After more than a decade of negotiations, the region's PACER Plus free trade deal is set to start on December the 13th. 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. It has been signed by 11 countries. In the third and final piece of a three-article series, Wesley Morgan calls for nations like Australia to cement the long-term relationship with its Pacific family and build a more integrated regional economy. Valuable legal advice was also provided by Chapman Tripp legal consultants in New Zealand. The Cook Islands is putting its ratification of the regional trade deal known as PACER Plus on hold. 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 with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead.” The regional free trade agreement, PACER Plus, will come into force on December 13. By the middle of the year the required number of countries are expected to have ratified it, allowing the deal to come into force. Other parties to PACER Plus to date are Australia, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. 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. PACER Plus covers trade in goods (rules of origin and verification procedures, customs procedures, biosecurity Eleven countries signed the agreement. Cook Islands puts PACER Plus ratification on hold The Cook Islands is putting its ratification of the regional trade deal known as PACER Plus on hold. PACER Plus is a one-way trade deal and squandered opportunity for the Pacific islands writes Adam Wolfenden. 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 Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) is responsible for Government trade policy matters and has led the Cook Islands participation in PACER Plus-related activities. Cook Islands puts PACER Plus ratification on hold. My Government is committed to that goal and will dedicate resources to support make that possible in the months ahead.”, Queries regarding this media release or the Cook Islands and PACER Plus can be directed to MFAI Director of Pacific and Regional Affairs Dr. Jim Gosselin at jim.gosselin@cookislands.gov.ck or phone 29347, [Media Release - MFAI] Cook Islands Ratified PACER Plus, Of great importance for the Cook Islands are, Queries regarding this media release or the Cook Islands, © Copyright ​PaePae Ropi'anga o te Kavamani. The Cook Islands Finance Minister Mark Brown said the decision to hit pause on the … In doing so, it has played a coordination role within Government in efforts to prepare for ratification, working closely with the Business Trade and Investment Board, the Crown Law Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management and others on various aspects of the Agreement. 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. Eight countries are Parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. PACER Plus Ministers Communique Category: Financial Secretary Office News PACER Plus negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2017. The agreement expands the existing Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) to include further trade liberalisation and development assistance. Cook Islands is the eighth signatory to PACER Plus, joining Australia, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Trade and prosperity in the Pacific will thrive following formal notification that Cook Islands is the eighth state to ratify the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus), triggering its formal entry into force in 60 days. Eight countries are Parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. PACER Plus opened for signature on 14 June 2017, and has been signed by Australia, New Zealand and nine Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu). PACER Plus is within the scope of WikiProject Australia, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Australia and Australia-related topics. As the Jacinda Arden’s second term government starts preparing its Defence White Paper scheduled to be released next year, it will take into … As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead.” The PACER Plus trade deal is led by New Zealand and Australia and has nine Pacific Island signatories, but only Samoa has ratified it. 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. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the agreement is important to his country: “economic diversification is a cornerstone of our development strategy and international trade policy must be an important strategic tool we use to strengthen and diversify our … Australia, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand have now ratified. In contrast to previous trade agreements to which the Cook Islands is party, PACER Plus includes detailed provisions not only on trade in goods but also trade in services and investment, increasingly important areas of international trade. 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. 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. The objective of the Agreement is to maximise opportunities for Forum Island Countries (FICs) to use trade and investment as engines of growth, to create jobs and ensure higher incomes and living standards. 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 Ministry of Finance. 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. “PACER Plus enters into force for Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga,” Minister Littleproud said. Cook Islands recently became the eighth country to ratify Pacer Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia. The broader regional economic picture 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. Pacer Plus set to come on stream later this year - Cooks Deputy PM. RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, June 19, 2017) – The controversial PACER-Plus deal was signed this week despite the notable absence of three major Pacific island economies, raising questions about the viability of the agreement to the region. Eleven Pacific Island countries are signatories to PACER Plus – Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The remaining signatories that are yet to ratify are Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. As with every Agreement, however, it will be up to us to take advantage of those opportunities in the months ahead.” Queries regarding this release can be directed to Antonina.Browne@cookislands.gov.ck 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 Cook Islands Trade Portal is a trade facilitation platform implemented by the government of the Cook Islands, in the context of the PACER Plus agreement, with technical assistance from UNCTAD and funding from Australia and New Zealand 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 . Countries out of … PACER Plus will enter into force on 13 December. 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. Trade and prosperity in the Pacific will thrive following formal notification that Cook Islands is the eighth state to ratify the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus), triggering its formal entry into force in 60 days. 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. 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. Last October, the Cook Islands put its ratification on hold over fears it would miss out on economic assistance when it graduated 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. PACER Plus entered into force on 13 December 2020. Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna has signalled his government will shortly ratify a major regional trade agreement. The eleven countries who have signed the PACER Plus Agreement are Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands… The remaining signatories that are yet to ratify are Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 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. "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.". There are 11 countries who have signed PACER Plus- Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. PACER Plus is a free trade agreement between members of the Pacific Islands Forum (the Forum Island Countries plus Australia and New Zealand). Cook Islands was the eighth country to ratify PACER Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia. Cook Islands was the eighth nation to ratify PACER Plus , enabling the agreement to enter into force. End. 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. 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. PACER Plus will only enter into force after eight of the signatory countries step in to ratify. Tonga's government has committed to ratifying the Pacer Plus trade deal. The eleven countries who have signed the PACER Plus Agreement are Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, while eight have ratified the agreement. For more information or queries contact MediaOCO@ocosec.org. Australia, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand have now ratified. Cook Islands was the eighth country to ratify PACER Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia. Time and again, studies detailed the structural features that differentiate Pacific economies: small size, distance from markets, expensive transport links, a reliance on imports, and vulnerability to disasters (such as intense cyclones) and shocks (such as the COVID-19 pandemic). 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 covers trade in goods (rules of origin and verification The objective of the Agreement is to maximise opportunities for Forum Island Countries (FICs) to use trade and investment as engines of growth, to create jobs and ensure higher incomes and living standards. The remaining signatories yet to ratify are Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 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. 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