Trade

Pacific Trade looks to strengthen E-commerce as a driver for economic development post COVID-19

The workshop, part of the Pacific E-commerce Initiative, is enabling trade officials across the region to unpack findings of a Pacific E-commerce assessment, and a sub-regional assessment for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). These discussions will feed into a Pacific E-Commerce Strategy aiming to lift engagement in digital trade.

Reduce barriers to trade, investment

Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), David Toua, said this recently in Tokyo, Japan, during the ABAC 2 Meeting.

Toua said the region was currently at the crossroads and urged ABAC members not to regress growth.

“One road takes us towards open markets, dynamic flows of goods, services, investment and people, and inclusive growth. The other takes us backwards towards protectionism, exclusion and regional economic slows

“We should not hold back progress in the Asia-Pacific,” said Toua.

Linking agritourism and trade changing mindsets in the Pacific

Over the past five years the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation has been helping regional governments to develop agritourism policies and grow trade.

This has been achieved in Samoa and Fiji by linking hotels with the local farmers associations.

In Vanuatu, the government now primarily sources locally produced food for all its official functions and events.

In Solomon Islands work is beginning on developing food tourism and tapping into niche markets like beauty and wellness products.

Aid from NZ/Aust key to success of PACER Plus – Kessie

RNZ reports he helped the island countries negotiate the deal and said it should bring significant benefits.

But Dr Kessie said a key is that New Zealand and Australia meet their commitments to allocate up to 20 per cent of their Pacific aid budgets to helping the island nations develop such things as the capacity to meet international bio-security requirements.

He said this would amount to $US300 million dollars annually being allocated.

China grants Trump a trademark he's been seeking for a decade

Trump fought unsuccessfully in Chinese courts for years to try to gain control of the trademark, but his fortunes changed suddenly last year during the latter stages of his campaign for the White House.

China's trademark review board announced in September it had invalidated a rival claim for the Trump trademark, clearing the way for Trump to move in. In November, soon after the election, it awarded the trademark to the Trump Organization. The trademark was officially registered this week after a three-month notice period for objections expired.

US Presidential Elections 2nd debate: CNN's Reality Check Team vets the claims

The team of reporters, researchers and editors across CNN listened throughout the debate and selected key statements from both candidates, rating them true; mostly true; true, but misleading; false; or it's complicated.

 

Obamacare

Reality Check: Trump on Obamacare premiums

By Tami Luhby, CNNMoney

Trump cited Obamacare as one of the top problems he wants to address if he is elected president.

China-Pacific trade doubles

Trade statistics released by Pacific Islands Trade & Invest China show that the 14 countries of the Pacific Islands Forum exported $2.5 billion worth of goods to China last year, up from $2 billion in 2014.

RNZ reports exports from China doubled to $5 billion over the same period including some significant ship sales for the fishing industry.

Papua New Guinea accounted for nearly $2 billion of the region's exports as the largest exporter of timber to China and an important exporter of Liquid Natural Gas.

Trade deficit of Vt2.8 billion recorded in October 2015

This was due to the value of total imports (Vt3.334 billion) exceeding total exports of Vt500 million, it indicated a deterioration of 45% or Vt884 million over October 2014, according to the latest Statistics Update on Merchandise Trade Statistics from the Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO).

Report provides snapshot of Pacific trade

The report uses International Trade Centre data to illustrate the main primary sector export products from 15 Pacific Island countries, the main export markets for these products and whether they are growing or declining. 

Fiji shines as an example for other Pacific Island countries to follow, accounting for 96 per cent of all regional exports.

Pacific trade advisor confident of PACER flexibility

Edwini Kessie's comment comes after Papua New Guinea and Fiji poured cold water on the current form of PACER Plus.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders last September said they wanted PACER Plus negotiations, which began in 2009, to be concluded by mid-2016.