18 Jun 2009

Pacific Trade ministers to deepen trade and investment with China

1:52 pm on 18 June 2009

Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the Pacific islands Trade Ministers' meeting now underway in Apia will travel to China later this year to discuss regional trade and investment interests.

Misa Telefoni will travel in his capacity as lead spokesperson of the Pacific Island Countries Technical Working Group of the region.

Misa will travel with the Secretary General of the Forum secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, to pursue initiatives to deepen trade and relations with China.

No other details of the trip have been released, but the Trade Ministers meeting is considering a number of issues, including arrangements for an office for a chief trade advisor to assist Forum Island countries.

The office of the chief trade advisor is to assist the island countries in their negotiations with New Zealand and Australia on the PACER-Plus trade deal.

Misa says PACER Plus is still a very difficult issue between the island nations and Australia and New Zealand.