The NGO the Pacific Network on Globalisation, PANG, says it would be more viable for Pacific countries to modernise the existing SPARTECA trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand rather than pursue closer economic relations through PACER Plus.
Negotiations on PACER Plus begin tomorrow in Brisbane with Pacific Trade Ministers meeting to development a time line for how they will debate the deal.
NGOs in the Pacific are wary of PACER Plus and fear New Zealand and Australia want a deal that will impose onerous commitments on the island countries.
PANG spokesperson, Wesley Morgan, says there would be more benefit in revitalising SPARTECA and this could include the removal of non tariff barriers.
"The assessment of agricultural exports from the Pacific countries has been extra-ordinarily slow. The assessment are around one product every two years from all of the island countries in terms of agricultural produce is assessed for entry, for meeting the quarantine requirements. And we feel that that is just one area that could be prioritised as a commitment to growing trade in the island countries."
