Joint statement: Trilateral Australia – Fiji – New Zealand Trade Ministers Meeting Saturday 21 September 2024 Rotorua, New Zealand
Joint statement
New Zealand Minister for Trade Hon Todd McClay hosted Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications the Hon Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua on 21 September, for trilateral discussions on shared international trade priorities.
The three Ministers reaffirmed the shared vision that Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand hold for a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Pacific region. They acknowledged the important roles that trade, investment, and deepened regional economic integration will play in achieving this shared vision, and committed to ongoing dialogue on these topics. Ministers expressed their intention to meet on a regular basis, trilaterally, to progress discussions and initiatives for the mutual benefit of our people.
Ministers McClay and Farrell warmly welcomed the actions by the Fiji Government – including through the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica – to seriously consider joining PACER Plus, the Pacific region's primary trade agreement.
Ministers McClay and Farrell noted the long-standing desire of Pacific Trade Ministers for PACER Plus to advance regional integration; to lift investment, increase trade, create jobs, improve standards of living, and encourage sustainable economic development. They affirmed the achievements of PACER Plus to date and expressed their view that PACER Plus would be strengthened by Fiji's inclusion.
Ministers McClay and Farrell noted that in their view PACER Plus can provide substantial flexibilities that take into account Fiji's unique economic characteristics, and that joining the agreement would reduce the barriers to trade in goods and services, and investment flows between Fiji and the existing PACER Plus Parties.
The Fiji Government has completed the first rounds of initial consultations on PACER Plus and is currently completing its feasibility assessment. Fiji plans to undertake further sectoral focus group consultations to ensure that there is broad stakeholder input and any decision taken is to the benefit of the people Fiji and the region.
The three Ministers noted their intention to support Fiji's economy in areas such as trade infrastructure, education and upskilling, economic diversification, technology transfer and investments in order to increase the benefits of trade to Fiji's people.
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica further emphasised that Australia and New Zealand can play a vital role in the diversification of Fiji's economy, particularly in the development of sectors like commercial agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and ICT.
The three Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. They also reaffirmed the importance of members ratifying the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to accelerate its entry into force, as well as the importance of negotiations on additional provisions that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing reaching a successful conclusion as soon as possible to secure a comprehensive fisheries subsidies agreement to protect the health of the world's oceans for future generations. Ministers reflected on the importance and positive impact of the Agreement for the Pacific region and its contribution to sustainable livelihoods.
Ministers briefly discussed a proposal for like-minded countries to develop and lead a Coalition against Overcapacity and Overfishing (OCOF) to build on the momentum from the discussion at the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference and further strengthen the disciplines on harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute towards OCOF. Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica emphasised that the proposed coalition could simultaneously increase the capacity of the Pacific tuna industry in the region and ensure the sustainable management of marine resources and equal benefits flow to the Pacific region.
Ministers welcomed renewed efforts of Pacific countries to develop a collaborative model for adding value to tuna caught in their waters, noting the ambition to increase processing within the Pacific and increase exports would require improved access and facilitation into major markets.
The three Ministers called for all WTO members to redouble efforts to each a meaningful outcome on agriculture reform at MC14, in line with Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture. Ministers recognised the important role of agricultural trading rules in reducing trade barriers, promoting the environmental sustainability of food systems, and enhancing global food security, particularly for small island developing states (SIDS).
The three Ministers also welcomed continued progress on the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). They reaffirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations of the IPEF Trade Agreement as expeditiously as possible and welcomed recent meetings to operationalise key bodies under the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement. They welcomed Fiji and New Zealand's ratification of the IPEF Agreements on Supply Chains, the Clean Economy and the Fair Economy, and Australia's substantial progress towards completing ratification. Ministers noted Australia and New Zealand's commitment to support Fiji's implementation of the IPEF Agreements, as Fiji's participation provides an important voice for Pacific Island countries and SIDS.
