Ministerial meeting hoped to accelerate Pacer Plus talks

Transcript

Todd McClay Photo: NZ Parliament

New Zealand's associate trade minister says he hopes a meeting with the region's trade ministers in Rarotonga this week will accelerate negotiations for the regional PACER Plus free trade agreement.

Todd McClay will attend the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers Meeting alongside representatives from Australia and 14 Pacific countries.

Negotiations towards the agreement have so far been marked by differences between the Pacific countries and Australia and New Zealand, particularly over labour mobility.

Mr McClay told Jamie Tahana this week's meeting is an opportunity to work out these differences at the ministerial level.

TODD MCCLAY: I think it's an opportunity for us to talk directly with trade ministers from the 16 countries about some of the ambitions that we share together, you know, greater trade access both for Pacific Island goods and resources to the Australia and New Zealand market, also amongst Pacific Island countries. But at the same time there's also a development or aid component of the discussion and so this is an opportunity to take stock for ministers, see what progress has been made with officials, and put continued emphasis into reaching a conclusion to the negotiation hopefully some time next year.  

JAMIE TAHANA: There is that shared vision for the PACER Plus agreement, but the past few rounds of negotiations have highlighted tensions between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific particularly over labour mobility. Are you hoping to overcome this hurdle in this meeting?

TM: Yeah, look I'm not sure that it would be fair to say that there's tension or frustration anymore but the relationship with these countries is a partnership and so we'll certainly be discussing some of the issues that are important to them as part of the negotiation. New Zealand sits in a very good place when it comes to the [Recognised Seasonal Employers] scheme, the government not so long ago increased the number of RSE workers that can come to New Zealand from Pacific Island countries, and I foresee a growing need for additional workers in the coming years. So look I think there's a lot to talk about there but I would say that my feeling is that where we're up to at the moment in the negotiation is that there is a growing agreement, there is greater understanding on all sides and I think a desire to put more effort into the relationship.

JT: Is New Zealand open to making some concession say, to the Tuvalu Prime Minister's want for the RSE scheme to be expanded to trades or something like that? Is that something New Zealand's open to?

TM: Well look I think the opportunity to provide greater skills to people in Pacific islands is something that's important. I'm not sure that the RSE scheme is the best way to do that and so this will be an opportunity for me to talk directly with some of the ministers from the various countries who have ambitions for greater training of people in their countries. Certainly, New Zealand is open to the discussion, where there are ways to provide skills, you know, that's something that's definitely worth talking about. But look, I think we have an opportunity to make very good progress during this negotiation but there will remain issues that we will need to keep talking about. You know, we're aiming to try and land this agreement some time during 2016, but there's still some very positive talking to be done.