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 PANG Breaking News

Find out latest in trade and globalisation issues facing the Pacific Islands 


(Updated September 2010)

Pacific policies of Australia's balance-of-power Greens

Australia Appeals Panel Report on Apples


(Updated August 2010)

War of Mobiles in Solomon Islands

WIPO Director General welcomes moves to enhance protection of traditional knowledge and folklore in Africa


IFC helps PNG Develop Economic Zone Strategy to Promote Growth

Workshop addresses trade and investment

Improving resolution of investor-state disputes the focus of new UN publication

Ifc focus on Philippines, Papua New guinea and Indonesia

Newly empowered Australian MPs consider radical ideas

Philip chosen as new Solomon's PM

PACER Plus submissions

Caribbean Civil Society unites to tap EU Development Funds

Groups demand a 'fair share' earmarked for foreign aid

Govt shows nerves over NGO role, resources

EPA the biggest threat to African integration, Keet

Forum office 'accepts Fiji environment'

Wide-ranging exclusive interview with the Forum's Secretary General

Fiji's isolation fuelling disinterests in PACER Plus negotiations

Regionalism's role in integrating the Pacific into the global trading system

PACER Plus factsheets

Forum 'not under pressure from Fiji'

Commentators critical over relevance of Forum

WTO accession must involve community discussion, says Vanuatu Ambassador

Pacific region promises opportunities for investment

Fiji - Aust row escalating says specialist

Conflict of Interest?

New push to conclude fraught SADC-EC trade deal by year-end

Forum Island Countries not ready to begin negotiations with Australia and New Zealand

EU assures of funding

World Bank gains official observer status at the Pacific Islands Forum

Forum leaders and private sector dialogue

Hold PACER

ACP wants regional EPA

Australian Greens want visa for Pacific climate refugees

Forum offers Olive branch to Fiji

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Micronesian Trade Ministers Meeting

EPA contentious issues Matrix: Key Problems and some Recommendations

Greens join calls for Moratorium on Pacific Trade deal

Pacific ACP Leaders' meeting outcomes

Leaders give Forum a wide berth

New Forum Chair calls for removal of barriers against democracy

Fiji's absence from PACP Meeting Questioned

EU promises to back off on EPA
Disappointment from Pacific Islands Forum as Chair absent
Vanuatu
Supporting our Pacific neighbours
THE REGION AUSTRALIA MUST NOT IGNORE
Pacific development must be priority at Pacific forum
Pacific Islands chief trade advisor seeks extra funding
Lack of solidarity a challenge for regional trade- PACER Plus chief adviser
No trade without help on undeniable climate change
Last obstacles for EPA signing removed
Debate over Australia's role as Pacific forum chair
Gillard_overlooks_Asian_partners_ahead_of_Pacific_Islands_Forum.pdf
PM slammed for ignoring forum
Lowy Institute discusses Australia Pacific issues
Rules of Origin changes welcome news for Trans-Tasman exporters
Pacific Islands Trade: A year's worth of bad outcomes
Australia_urged_to_speed_up_seasonal_workers_scheme.pdf
Review of Australia's Regional and Bilateral Trade Agreements
PACER Plus puts profit before people
Aust health workers warn of impact of PACER Plus



(Updated July2010)
Inclusive Growth Bulletin
Australia defends its Pacific seasonal worker scheme
Who profits from our foreign aid. From cattle company to global aid
PM unconcerned over Yabaki's comments
Maturity of the MSG
Questions over Australia's seasonal worker's scheme

DG Trade Info on PNG-Fiji IEPA
Who profits from foreign aid_The untold story of GRM International
Papua New Guinea_Australia Bilateral meeting

PNG wants Aussie aid to be part of budget
Send skilled workers overseas_PNG Education Minister
PNG wants more trade but less with Australia
Call for submissions on PACER Plus
Higher average farm prices expected

PNG to approve fruit picking scheme
Suggestions of Australian foreign policy adjustments
Pacific_globalisation_NGO_explains_opposition_to_PACER_Plus.pdf
Experience of some exciting enterprises across the Pacific
New Australian government claims continued Pacific focus
Pacific reacts to new Australian Prime Minister

Local producers in Vanuatu to get share of exports via tax
Tuna industry says no to protecting Pacific tuna
Samoa's Deputy PM says PACER Plus is good for Pacific
Rules of Origin changes welcome news for Trans-Tasman exporters

Pacific civil society organisations, unions and churches issue joint statement on trade justice (August 22, 2008)
Pacific civil society organisations (CSOs) met in Auckland NZ in mid-August to discuss issues relating to a new free trade agreement (FTA) with the Australia and NZ under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER).
The meeting was held as part of the 2008 annual Pacific CSO Forum – hosted by the Pacific Island Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO) – in the lead-up to the 2008 Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in Niue.
Meeting participants issued a Pacific Civil Society Organisations Statement on Trade Justice listing key demands in relation to any FTA negotiations under PACER.
Fei Tevi, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches said trade could help to promote development, but he said Australia and NZ had only one model of trade for the Pacific in mind.  “That model, of a new World Trade Organisation compatible FTA with Australia and NZ could potentially be a disaster for the Pacific, said Mr Tevi.  “Even supporters of a new FTA acknowledge there will be high costs – like job losses and reductions in government revenue. 
“This joint statement is calling on our leaders to ensure that there are alternatives and that trade arrangements with Australia and NZ should be based on justice and should enhance social development in the Pacific.”
The Pacific Civil Society Statement on Trade Justice was endorsed by the following organisations: Pacific Island Association of NGOs, Pacific Conference of Churches, Pacific Network on Globalisation, South Pacific and Oceanic Council of Trade Unions, Oxfam New Zealand, Vanuatu Association of NGOs, O Le Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (Samoa), Samoa Umbrella for NGOs (SUNGO), Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, PACFAW, Fiji Council of Social Services, Tuvalu Association of NGOs (TANGO), Federated States of Micronesia Alliance of NGOs (FANGO), and the Development Resource Centre (NZ). 
See Pacific Civil Society Statement on Trade Justice for full statement.
See here for accompanying press release.

"A new World Trade Organisation compatible FTA with Australia and NZ could potentially
be a disaster for the Pacific... trade arrangements with Australia and NZ should be
based on justice and should enhance social development in the Pacific."
- Fei Tevi, General Secretary,
Pacific Conference of Churches

Making Waves – PANG releases report on free trade negotiations facing the Pacific (August 19, 2008)
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) has prepared a report on the major free trade agreements facing the Pacific Island Countries.
Making Waves: Opportunities for Reclaiming Development in the Pacific (Informing civil society responses to the free trade agenda) was prepared for the 2008 Annual Pacific Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Forum, held in Auckland NZ, August 12-14. 
Making Waves was prepared by Maureen Penjueli, Coordinator, PANG, and Wesley Morgan, Communications Officer, PANG. The report was prepared in collaboration with Nick Braxton, Advocacy and Research Officer, Oxfam New Zealand, and Professor Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law, Auckland University.
See: Making Waves for full PDF of the report.

Australia bullies Pacific trade ministers to try and rush FTA process (August 4, 2008)
Australian trade officials used the Pacific Forum Trade Ministers' meeting in the Cook Islands (June 22, 2008) to try to pressure Pacific trade ministers to push ahead with free trade negotiations, despite the fact the Pacific is in no way ready for those negotiations, and is still negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU.
Australian officials were hoping for a ‘heads of agreement’ with Pacific ministers – outlining what areas would be included under any FTA negotiations, and formalising the negotiating process – but this was vigorously resisted by Pacific trade ministers.
Australia and NZ rejected Pacific proposals for the establishment of a regional trade negotiating team to engage in free trade negotiations under PACER-Plus – offering instead to support training of trade officials from each Pacific country.
PANG is concerned that while negotiations haven’t even begun, the Australians are splitting the region, by refusing to support a regional negotiating office, and by holding out carrots – like new workers’ schemes – to gain support from individual Pacific countries.
“It would be unfortunate if Australia and NZ were to use their position as key aid donor countries for the region, to secure their own trade interests in any FTA negotiations,” said PANG Coordinator Maureen Penjueli.
See here for PANG Press Release on Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting, which was disseminated widely in Pacific media.

Call for moratorium on PICTA services negotiations (July 25, 2008)
In light of serious deficiencies in public consultation and Government preparedness around the region, PANG is calling for a moratorium on Service sector negotiations as part of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA).  No social impact assessments have been completed, nor have any regulatory reviews, and trade officials have admitted privately that they don’t understand the implications sufficiently to conclude negotiations at this stage.  Nevertheless, negotiations continue with a view towards Pacific Island Countries listing four service sectors for liberalisation under PICTA by October 2008.PANG is calling for an immediate moratorium on the PICTA services negotiations until appropriate social impact assessments, and regulatory reviews, have been completed.  More genuine consultation with industry and civil society groups on including services under PICTA is also needed.
See here for a PANG Press Release on the call for a moratorium, which was disseminated widely in Pacific media.

PANG facilitates regional trade union seminar on free trade in the Pacific (June 28, 2008)
This month PANG worked with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to facilitate a Pacific trade union seminar on Free Trade, Decent Work and Social Development in the Pacific – Trade union responses to the EU-ACP EPA, PICTA and PACER.  Held in Nadi from June 24-26, the conference saw trade unionists from across the region discuss the multiple free trade agreements facing the Islands, their implications for working people, and appropriate trade union responses.  PANG prepared an extensive background paper for conference participants, providing up-to-date information on each FTA facing the region, and providing suggestions for union responses to the move towards free trade in the region.  Auckland University’s Professor Jane Kelsey and Oxfam NZ Advocacy and Research Officer Nick Braxton assisted in preparing the background paper and presentations during the seminar.  The seminar background paper is available here.

"I think governments have not thought through the consequences of joining a free trade area.
We hear all this talk of efficiency and economies of scale. But the reality is, small companies
will be forced out once the big players come to town. Governments have not worked out
an alternative plan on how to reemploy people if factories close and people are left
without jobs. What will happen, is that the jobless will march on the streets and
local business owners will be complaining that they are being squeezed out of
the market by foreign companies."

    - Dr Wadan Narsey, Economics Professor
University of the South Pacific

EU responds to Pacific civil society concerns and questions regarding the EPA negotiations (June 25, 2008)
A number of Pacific civil society organizations (CSOs) attended an information seminar on the ongoing negotiations for a new EPA between the EU and the Pacific Island Countries, in April this year.  At that seminar, held in Madang, PNG, PANG joined other CSOs to present a list of key concerns and questions regarding the EPA negotiations and their implications for the Pacific.  Those questions were submitted in writing, and two months later, the European Commission has issued a formal response.  See here for the concerns and questions, and the EC’s response.

Trading away our health? New free trade agreement with the EU may undermine access to medicine in the Pacific (May 11, 2008)
The European Union is seeking stronger intellectual property (IP) rights laws in the Pacific region through a new free trade agreement (to be called an Economic Partnership Agreement).  Various studies have indicated that the new rules on intellectual property proposed by the EU will offer no gains in areas of interest to the Pacific (such as the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources), but will advance the commercial interests of EU corporations.  The proposed rules on intellectual property would restrict access to medicine, access to educational material, access to seeds used in traditional farming, and place restrictions on technology transfer, including ready access to inputs important for development, like new software, machinery, herbicides and pesticides etc.  Some key papers on the EU’s proposed changes to intellectual property can be found below:

Trading Away Our Rights? Free Trade and Human Rights in the Pacific
This paper, from the Pacific Network on Globalisation, explains how the EU’s proposed changes to intellectual property will undermine access to medicine in the Pacific – in contravention of the human rights obligations of EU member states.

An Analysis of the EC Non-Paper on the Objectives and Possible Elements of an IP section in the EC-Pacific EPA.
This paper, from the Catholic agency for Overseas Development and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, details the implications of the EU’s proposed changes to IP law for the Pacific Island countries.  The author concludes that “it is strongly recommended that Pacific countries do not agree to the inclusion of an IP section in the EC-Pacific EPA. 

Intellectual Property in the European Union Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries.  
This paper, from the Centre for International Environmental Law, details the implications of the EU’s proposed changes to IP law for Pacific and African countries following the signing of a comprehensive EPA between the Caribbean countries and the EU in late 2007.

Pacific Civil Society issues Joint Statement following Seminar on EPA negotiations. (April 30, 2008)
Following the Seminar on the Pacific-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, civil society representatives at the Seminar issued a joint statement covering key concerns regarding ongoing EPA negotiations.  Civil society representatives were concerned that a.) The EPAs will reduce government revenue in the Pacific, b.) The EPAs will undermine the sovereignty of Pacific peoples and governments, c.) The EPAs will harm development in Pacific countries, and d.) The EPAs will reduce the ability of Pacific governments to meet their human rights obligations to their peoples.  This joint statement is endorsed by the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations, the Pacific Network on Globalisation, the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, the Vanuatu Association of Non-Government Organisations, the National Council of Women – Fiji, and the Fiji Chamber of Commerce.  Read the full statement here.

Pacific Civil Society takes concerns directly to EU ambassadors and trade negotiators. (April 28-29, 2008)
PANG joined other national and regional civil society organisations in Madang, Papua New Guinea, this week at a seminar on the continuing negotiations for a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Pacific and the European Union (EU).  In late 2007, the EU forced PNG and Fiji to initial Interim-EPAs, under threat of a dramatic increase in tariffs on key exports (tuna and sugar).  This year, those two countries are coming to terms with the implications of the Interim-deals they have initialed (which contain clauses that will prevent value adding of natural resources in Fiji and PNG, and restrict their ability to nurture new industries), while at the same time the EU continues to push for a broad free trade agreement with the whole region.  The EU is seeking market access for its corporations, exports and investors that goes far beyond the trade liberalisation required of World Trade Organisation members - despite the fact most Pacific countries are not WTO members.   At the Madang seminar, concerns and questions about the proposed EPAs were raised with the European Commission (as represented by the Head of Delegation, Papua New Guinea, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, other ambassadors and trade negotiators from Brussels).  Few of those concerns and questions were addressed at the Seminar, and those concerns and questions have been submitted to the Commission in writing.  See here for detailed Pacific Civil Society concerns and questions regarding the ongoing EPA negotiations.

PANG has new staff! (April, 2008)
The times are a' changing at PANG.  PANG bids farewell to Roshni Sami, who has decided to move on to new opportunities, resigning from the position of Coordinator. Ms Sami served PANG well for nearly two years, and helping to grow the organisation.  In her place PANG welcomes on board Maureen Penjueli as the new Coordinator.  Formerly of Greenpeace and the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI), Maureen brings with her a wealth of campaigning and media experience in the Pacific. She said she was looking forward to taking up the challenge of fighting for fair trade in the Pacific, and a return to activism.  This month PANG also took on Vinesh Prasad in the position of Administration and Accounts Officer.

Pacific Trade Ministers slam EU's approach to negotiation for new free trade deal as "divisive and domineering" (April 18, 2008)
Letters between the Coook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilkie Rasmussen, and the EU's top trade official Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson highlight an increasing anger in the Pacific about negotiations for a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Pacific Island States.  It is clear from the letters that Pacific Ministers feel PNG and Fiji only signed interim-EPAs with the EU because they were threatened with a loss of exports (of tuna and sugar) if they didn't.  The Ministers also feel that Mandelson has been a backroom bully, and they have passed a resolution pointing out Mandelson's "harsh and overly domineering" attitude during negotiations.  Full story available here.  Letters to Peter Mandelson available here.

Job Vacancies at PANG. (January 22, 2008)
PANG is expanding.  The Pacific Network on Globalisation has a big mandate - to work on trade issues across 14 Island countries - and is looking for good people to help PANG fulfil its important work.  PANG is currently looking to fill the position of PANG Coordinator, and Administration and Accounts Officer.  Please download full job descriptions (including details on applying for each position) here .  Applications close February 8th, 2008.

Call to protect Pacific jobs and reject imposed Free Trade agenda. (January 22, 2008)
Following the news that Flour Mills of Fiji (FMF) has closed down two milling factories and put on hold $30 million worth of projects (that would have created 120 new jobs) PANG has called on Pacific governments to reject foreign imposed free trade policies that will lead to business closures and more job losses.  See article in the Fiji Times here .

Making links - PANG IEC Officer Wes Morgan, ANU Pacific Studies Convener Katerina Teaiwa and PANG Coordinator Roshni Sami. 

PANG meets with Australian National University - Pacific Studies Convener. (January 22, 2008) 
PANG met with the Pacific Studies Convener at the Australian National University (Katerina Teaiwa) during a recent visit to Suva, Fiji.  Discussions centred on ways that PANG may be able to work with researchers  (both students and academics) within Australia in formal or informal capacities.  It was also noted that the new Government in Australia is currently reviewing it's engagement with the Pacific Island countries. Pang is very keen to develop partnerships with researchers across the region interested in trade and economic justice issues in the Pacific.

Heat rises in the Pacific in response to interim trade deal. (December 15, 2007)
Angry voices are being raised in the Pacific Islands following Fiji and PNG's decision, under threats to Pacific livelihoods, to sign on to an interim trade deal with the EU.   Island Business magazine is calling the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations a "sell out" while NGOs like Oxfam New Zealand have decried the deal as undermining meaningful Pacific integration.  Read the Island Business article here, and press releases from Oxfam NZ here.  

PNG and Fiji pushed into interim trade deal.  (December 7, 2007)
It appears there is very little to celebrate in PNG and Fiji's signing of interim-trade deals with the EU.  The EU has met virtually none of the key development priorities put forward by the Pacific negotiators.  The EU has made no commitments on aid-for-trade, and the concessions on European market access for tuna exports have been minimal. In return, Fiji and PNG have abandoned Pacific-wide solidarity, and lost policy space for setting development priorities in the future.  One official in Brussels described it as: "In effect, we have abandoned almost all forms of traditional trade policy.  In return, we got nothing [from the EU]".  Read the full story here.

EU stampedes over Pacific in rushed deal on trade.  (November 24, 2007)
Under intense and grossly unfair pressure, Papua New Guinea and Fiji have split from their Pacific counterparts and initialled an interim agreement on trade in goods with the European Union.  The EU had threatened Pacific livelihoods by refusing to rule out raising tariffs in 2008 on key exports of tuna and sugar.  The implications of this bullying are far reaching.  Read a feature article, including background information to the EPA negotiations, here.  This article appeared in the Fiji Times on Saturday, November 24.

The Bittersweet Truth - The EU, Sugar and Poverty - On World Poverty Day (October 17, 2007)
PANG delivers a warning that free trade agreements with the EU, Australia and New Zealand could lead to increasing poverty in the Pacific. Dramatic trade liberalisation could lead to de-industrialisation and unemployment. This story also highlights 'divide and rule' tactics by the EU in negotiations for a new Economic Partnership Agreement with the Pacific.  Read the full story here...

Pacific Regional NGOs issue statement on trade at Pacific Leaders Forum. (October 15, 2007)
This year’s annual gathering of regional NGOs - the 2007 Pacific Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum - has issued a strong statement to Pacific Leaders, urging them to stand up for the rights of the Pacific in negotiations for a new trade deal with the EU.  Read full story here, and read Pacific CSO Forum Statement here...

Stand Strong - 2007 Pacific Regional CSO Forum delivers a message to Pacific  leaders.  Photo: Maureen Penjueli

'The EPA is about Free Trade, not Development'. (October 15, 2007)
PANG Coordinator Roshni Sami delivered a rousing speech to the Pacific NGOs annual forum. Her presentation to the 2007 Pacific Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum, in Tonga, focussed on the implications of Free Trade for the Pacific, especially the current negotiations for a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU. . See full text of her speech here...

PANG warns Pacific negotiators to be wary of ‘circling sharks’.  (October 7,2007)
A warning that any trade concessions offered to the EU in negotiations for a new ‘Economic Partnership Agreement’ may be demanded by Australia and NZ as well – with devastating consequences for the Pacific.  Australia and NZ form a much larger share of Pacific trade, and tariffs collected on imports from our ‘Big Brother’ neighbours provides essential revenue for public services in much of the Pacific.  Read more here...

Find out about the September 2007,  Global Day of Action against the 'Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)' the EU is forcing on its ex-colonies.  PANG invited representatives from the EU to come and drink kava with representatives of Pacific society, to share growing concerns about the bully-tactics the EU is using to force the Pacific to sign an agreement that offers them little.  It was an interesting kava-ceremony. (September 27, 2007) Read more here...

PANG organises a public action to raise awareness about European bans on kava products.   The EU is constantly lecturing developing countries that they should be developing export industries to help alleviate poverty.  In the late 1990s the Pacific had a vibrant kava export industry – worth around $US200 million each year.  In 2001, the EU imposed a ban on kava-products which decimated the Pacific export industry over night. The World Health Organisation says kava exports can safely begin again, the time is right for the EU to lift the ban. (September 27, 2007) Read more here...

PANG Releases an official paper on the European Kava Bans "Time to Make Trade Fair - Lift the Kava Bans".  PANG has prepared an in-depth analysis of the European bans on kava products.  Feel free to use and share this paper. (September, 2007) Available here…

Past News
PANG Press Releases 'from the vault'

18 April 2007 Stop EPA Day

19 December 2006 EU Bully Tactics

30 October 2006 NZ Work Scheme a "Mutton Flap Gesture"

25 October 2006 Are Our Trade Negotiators Hypocrites

PANG in the Media
As a fair trade campaigning organisation, PANG aims to disseminate considered analysis of trade issues as widely as possible through local, regional and international media channels , as well as through presentations to conferences, trade workshops, university seminars etc.  PANG appears regularly in newspapers, magazines, radio, on television and on the World Wide Web.  In the past month media releases and comments from PANG have appeared in:

See here for a full list of recent media appearances.