RAROTONGA, Cook Islands – As the Pacific Agreement on
Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) enters Phase 2
of implementation (2025-2030), the Government of the Cook
Islands, in collaboration with the PACER Plus Implementation
Unit (PPIU), has undertaken national consultations to review
progress under the Agreement and identify priorities for the
next phase of implementation.
Held from 1–6 March,
in Avarua, Rarotonga, the consultations brought together
PACER Plus contact points and government departments
responsible for implementing key areas of the Agreement,
including Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade
(TBT), Trade in Services, Temporary Movement of Natural
Persons, Investment, and Labour Mobility.
The
consultations focused on assessing the Cook Islands’
progress in implementing the Agreement using the PACER Plus
Implementation Trackers. The Trackers are a monitoring tool
used to evaluate how national laws, policies, and
institutional systems align with the Agreement’s
commitments. They help identify implementation strengths,
gaps, and capacity needs, supporting targeted technical
assistance and improved utilisation of the
Agreement.
After the first five years of PACER Plus
implementation, the Cook Islands is now positioned to build
on key achievements to date and leverage the Agreement to
better support trade outcomes and sustainable economic
development for the country.
Elizabeth Wright-Koteka,
Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration,
PACER Plus Focal Point, said the consultations confirmed
that the Cook Islands has made significant progress in
implementing the Agreement.
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“Preliminary findings
show that the Cook Islands has established strong legal and
institutional foundations for PACER Plus implementation,
particularly in areas such as Customs Procedures, Rules of
Origin, and services regulation. These systems are supported
by modern customs platforms and transparent regulatory
frameworks that facilitate trade and investment,” Ms.
Wright-Koteka said.
“At the same time, the
consultations highlighted opportunities to further
strengthen implementation in areas such as sanitary and
phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade,
enhance investment promotion and facilitation, and improve
coordination across agencies involved in trade and labour
mobility.”
The outcomes of the consultations help
guide national priorities for Phase 2 of PACER Plus
(2025–2030) and project proposals for the FY2026-2027
PACER Plus Annual
Plan.
