AID FOR TRADE SEMINAR ´Pacific engagement in the Multilateral Trading System” Alex Kerangpuna Trade Policy Officer, Permanent Delegation of Pacific Islands Forum to the WTO Geneva, Switzerland The Jen Hotel, Brisbane Thursday, 13 th and Friday, 14 th October 2016 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT 1

Outline PIFS-Geneva Office Mandate and rationale Key roles: – Provision of Policy and technical support to Pacific Islands WTO Members – Co-ordinating AfT support with Donors to support FICs. Challenges and achievements Concluding remarks 2

PIFS-Geneva Office Mandate and rational of its establishment Forum Leaders Decision to establish the Pacific Islands Permanent Office to the WTO Rationale for Decision:  representation  cost-effective measure for FICs WTO Members Membership  Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) Observers of Pacific WTO Members Staff 3

Representation and Technical Support towards Pacific WTO Members Provide technical and policy advice to Members on WTO issues and represent their interests in the WTO Attend WTO Regular and Negotiations Meetings (i)Regular Meetings:  follow-up on the implementation status of WTO Agreements and Decisions,  Pacific Islands Members are reminded of outstanding commitments and obligations 4

(ii)Negotiation Meetings:  A ttend different negotiation group meetings (agriculture, Services trade, Non-Agricultural Market access, Rules)  Attend LDC, SVEs and ACP Group meetings 5 Representation and Technical Support towards Pacific WTO Members

 Timely dissemination of reports, briefs, analysis to Members and co-ordinate their responses  Technical briefing to Pacific Trade Ministers and Official at WTO Ministerial Conferences 6 Representation and Technical Support towards Pacific WTO Members

Trade Promotion activities  The Trade Promotion adviser is responsible for promoting Pacific Exports into the EU market 7 Representation and Technical Support towards Pacific WTO Members

Collaboration between PIFS-Geneva Office and Pacific Missions in Brussels  Technical briefings during annual ACP Trade Ministers meeting  Organize bilateral meetings for Pacific Ambassadors with Geneva-based International organizations 8

Collaboration between PIFS-Geneva Office and Australia PIFS-Geneva Office has close collaboration with the Australian Permanent Mission to the WTO  Both co-host workshops and Pacific Briefings to Pacific Officials. For example: include:  Pacific side event at the 5 th AfT Global review in 2015 –showcase of Pacific products and arts  Joint side event co-hosted by Australian Permanent Mission Geneva, ICTSD, and PIFS at MC11 in Kenya for ANZ and Pacific Trade Ministers 9

Collaboration between PIFS-Geneva Office and International Organisations Collaboration with International organizations:  WTO- Series of regional workshops  Commonwealth Secretariat  International Trade Center (ITC) 10

Collaboration between PIFS-Geneva Office and International Organisations Collaboration with International organizations:  World Bank-Trade Facilitation Needs Assessment  UNCTAD 11

6. Funding aspect of PIFS-Geneva Office The Geneva Office is funded through  Secretariat’s core budget,  Forum Island Country WTO member contributions,  the European Union (ended in 2015)  Australian sole funder for PIFS Office for

Challenges WTO as Members driven organisation and PIFS- Geneva Office is not allowed to sit in meetings Timely responses from Members to feed in the negotiation process In adequate resources at national level Political will to induce effective participation of the officials in driving the multilateral negotiations 13

Achievements Result of collaborations could be measured in the following way:  PIFS-Geneva conducted a number of regional workshops WTO (SPS, Trade Facilitation)  6 Members completed National TFA Needs Assessment  Pacific Continued to defend Fisheries and related negotiations  Pacific Trade Ministers effective representations at the two ministerial meetings (2013 and 2015)  15 Pacific officials completed WTO Internship programme with PIFS-Geneva mission and WTO 14

Way forward PIFS-Geneva Office wish to continue working with Australian Permanent Mission in Geneva 15

Thank you for your attention! Contacts: Mr.Alex Kerangpuna, PIFS-Geneva Office, Geneva, Switzerland at: 16