13 Sep 2016

Pacific NGO queries haste over PACER Plus

From , 3:02 pm on 13 September 2016

An NGO leader in the Pacific cannot understand why the region is hurrying to complete a trade deal.

Pacific leaders at last week's Forum summit committed to finalising negotiations on the PACER Plus agreement by the end of next month.

This comes despite 67 civil society groups issuing an open letter asking them to slow down the process and undertake proper impact assessments.

Hugh Govan, who is part of the locally managed marine area network and works around the region, told Don Wiseman there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the way leaders' meetings across the Pacific are now being conducted.