PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT T he ST AT E OF PL AY OF T HE NE GOT IAT ONS ON T HE E CONOMIC PART NE RSHIP AGRE E ME NT 14t 14th REG EGIONAL M MEET EETING OF F THE A ACP CP-EU J JOI OINT P PARLIAMENTRY A ASSEMBLY CONVEN ENTION C CEN ENTRE, P PORT V VILA, VANUAT ATU 19 – 21 July, 2017 Mr . Shiu Raj, Dir e c tor Polic y E c onomic Gove r nanc e (shiur @for umse c .or g)
Overview: PACP-EU TRADE PERFORMANCE PACP-EU TRADE IN GOODS (14-16) 2,5 2 2 1,6 1,4 1,5 1,3 1,3 1 1 0,5 0 2014 2015 2016 EU exports to PACPS (Bn Euros) PACPS exports to EU (Bn Euros)
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT EPA progress • Pacific ACP-EU EPA negotiations started in 2004, and suspended in March 2015 at the European Commission’s (EC) request. • A Comprehensive EPA negotiations stalled due to Fisheries (Conservation and Management Measures, protection of infant industries issues). • Pacific ACP Leaders accepted the suspension of Comprehensive EPA negotiations and communicated this to the EC, in October 2016. The same was communicated to the ACP membership at the 104 th session of the ACP Council of Ministers.
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT Alternative Options for Pacific – EU Trade • Three mechanisms through which the PACPS can access the EU market, in the absence of Comprehensive EPA: • Acceding to the Interim EPA - there is provision to accede, requiring intending country to negotiate on its own right with the existing parties for accession • EU Generalised System of Preference (GSP) Schemes – Pacific ACP Non LDC’s through the applicable GSP (Standard GSP, GSP+) Schemes • Everything But Arms (EBA) – Pacific ACP LDC’s • The EC and the Forum Secretariat is assisting any interested PACPS accede to the interim EPA, through advisory services.
Interim EPA (iEPA) • Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed onto the iEPA. • Samoa has formally submitted to the EU, Fiji, and PNG their interest to accede to the iEPA, whilst Solomon Islands have indicated their intent to also accede to the iEPA. • PIFS has approached the European Commission, and other intra-ACP initiatives for partnerships to assist the PACPS interested in acceding to the iEPA • PACPS’ exports to EU markets average 16% of their total exports to the rest of the world. Key exports to the EU market include: sugar, palm oil, fisheries products, pearls, coffee, and cocoa. • The Post-Brexit environment raises uncertainty on continued access to the UK market for the Pacific ACP business community, and especially for those PACPS trading with the UK under unilateral GSP schemes. The UK has recently confirmed that they will ensure duty free and quota free arrangements for qualifying PACPS.
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