11 May 2012: At the 2012 Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting (FTMM), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) updated ministers on its trade-related work, including the region’s Traditional Knowledge (TK) Action Plan. Decisions taken by the ministers are contained in the 2012 FTMM Outcomes Document. The FTMM took place on 11 May 2012, in Majuro, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

The Ministers agreed that Phase Two of the TK Action Plan would focus on assisting PIF member countries (Forum Island Countries, or FICs) to draft TK policy and legislative frameworks. FICs will be asked to request technical assistance for this process by the end of August 2012.

In addition, the Trade Ministers addressed: progress on World Trade Organisation (WTO) related issues; progress of consultations on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus, about which PIFS Secretary General Neroni Slade expressed optimism; an update on Pacific Islands Trade & Invest and the related 10-year strategy; PIFS’ trade-related work programme for 2011-2012; the operations of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA); New Caledonia’s efforts to accede to the Pacific Island Countries’ Trade Agreement (PICTA); a trade and development agreement with the U.S.; and an assessment of the trade priority under the Pacific Plan.

The following member countries were represented at the meeting: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Tuvalu and Vanuatu. New Caledonia attended as an Associate Member.

The FTMM followed the 2012 Forum Trade Officials’ Meeting (FTOM), also held in Majuro, from 8-9 May 2012. [FTMM 2012 Outcomes Document] [PIFS Press Release on Secretary General’s Statement]