- Voices : Govt’s Diaspora Unit in the limelight for all the right reasons [12/12/2019 - Samoa]
- Sports News : Tahiti to host 2024 Olympic surfing competition [12/12/2019 - French Polynesia]
- Sports News : Jerry Tuwai to play his 50th tournament for Fiji at the Cape Town 7s [12/12/2019 - Fiji]
- News : U.S federal court ruling gives American Samoans citizenship [12/12/2019 - United States]
- News : Writs from Bougainville referendum returned to PNG vice-regal, PM Marape in Arawa [12/12/2019 - Papua New Guinea]
- News : Shipwrecks and Scars on Seafloor from Atomic Bomb Tests at Bikini Atoll Revealed by Scientists [12/12/2019 - Marshall Islands]
- Business News : Vocus completes $93m Coral Sea Cable System for Australian Government [12/12/2019 - Australia]
- News : U.S seeking further block on compensation for climate damage [12/12/2019 - Spain]
- News : MFAT confirms New Zealand as likely source of Samoa's measles epidemic [12/12/2019 - New Zealand]
- News Feature : Taiwan Pushed to the Sidelines as COP25 Climate Summit Concludes [12/12/2019 - Spain]
- Sports News :
Ian Foster confirmed as new All Blacks coach on a two-year deal [12/12/2019 - Fiji]
- Sports News : Hekari to host top Kiwi, New Caledonia, Vanuatu clubs [11/12/2019 - Papua New Guinea]
- Sponsored : Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC)

Australia's government has praised Samoa for ratifying a controversial regional free trade agreement.
Last month Samoa became the first Pacific Island country to ratify the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus, or PACER Plus.
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs said Samoa's move is a major step towards bringing into force an agreement that will deliver closer economic integration across the region.
According to Marise Payne the trade deal will promote prosperity and development for Pacific Island countries.
PACER Plus has been beset by criticism that it favours New Zealand and Australia, the only two other countries to have ratified the deal.
The global think tank Chatham House, warned that enforced free trade will undermine customary land holding and social capital systems in the Pacific.
ButPayne said PACER Plus will help Pacific nations build their economic independence.
Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham has also welcomed the completion of Samoa's ratification processes.
“By improving integration for Pacific economies, PACER Plus will facilitate greater two-way trade and investment and modernise customs arrangements, reducing the cost of doing business in the region,” Minister Birmingham said.
PACER Plus is a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) covering goods, services and investment.
Canberra argues that it will help Pacific nations but it will also provide commercial opportunities for Australian exporters and investors in a range of sectors.
The agreement will enter into force 60 days after the eighth signatory ratifies the agreement.
Signatories are Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
SOURCE: RNZ PACIFIC/PACNEWS
News feature
Pacific Islands News Association
Who & What is PINA? Membership Member Countries Media Freedom Training PINA Convention Awards Contact Gallery Forum Events Jobs Classifieds |
PACNEWS
Home Regional Feature Business Sports Archives |
Partners
Communications Initiative International News Safety Institute (INSI) UNDP PC AusAID NZAID SPREP ONOC UNAIDS Media Helping Media |
Partners
PIFS SPC IFEX UNESCO AIBD GFMD SEAPA WPFC IFJ |