Pacific Islands Forum Leaders launched negotiations on PACER Plus at their 40th meeting in August 2009. PACER Plus negotiations concluded in April 2017.

Australia and New Zealand funded the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA) to support the Pacific Island Countries in the negotiations. The OCTA provided independent support and advice to Pacific Island Countries on PACER Plus matters.

Australia's support included:

• appropriate capacity building and support,
• funds for Pacific Island Countries to commission independent research on PACER Plus, and
• training of Forum Island Country trade officials to strengthen their capacity in respect of the PACER Plus negotiations. Australia has provided funding for officials from Forum Island Countries to attend PACER Plus meetings and is also helping to fund the.

PACER Plus builds on an earlier agreement – the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (2001).

Updates on PACER Plus negotiations

• April 2010
• November 2010
• April 2011
• May 2011
• May 2012
• December 2012
• July 2013
• September 2013
• November 2013
• December 2013

Submissions

PACER Plus negotiations concluded in April 2017. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade invited submissions and comments throughout the negotiations for interested stakeholders. Below are the public submissions received during negotiations.

Copyright and content

Copyright in submissions resides with the author(s), not with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The views expressed in these submissions are the views of the author(s) and should not be understood as reflecting the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Submissions received

Submissions were received from a wide range of interested parties including industry, business, community and labour representatives and government agencies. The following persons and organisations have provided non-confidential submissions and comments:

• Aid Watch [PDF]
• ANZ [PDF]
• Australian Council for International Development [PDF]
• Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network [PDF]
• Australian Industry Group [PDF]
• Australian Pork Limited [PDF]
• BJS Group [PDF]
• Bruck Group [PDF]
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland [PDF]
• Community and Public Sector Union [PDF]
• Eden Power
• Frosty Boy Australia [PDF]
• Mr Jawed Gebrael [PDF]
• Dr Nicole George [PDF]
• Global Justice Network of the Grail in Australia [PDF]
• Greenlight Technology Group Pty Ltd [PDF]
• Ms Shona Hawkes [PDF]
• Honda [PDF]
• Institute for International Trade [PDF]
• International Women's Development Agency [PDF]
• Mr Philip Kidner [PDF]
• Law Institute of Victoria [PDF]
• Lowy Institute for International Policy [PDF]
• Ms Lara Mason [PDF]
• Music Council of Australia [PDF]
• National Farmers' Federation [PDF]
• National Institute of Accountants [PDF]
• Northern Territory Government [PDF]
• Oxfam Australia [PDF]
• Philip Morris Ltd [PDF]
• QANTAS [PDF]
• Rural Solutions SA [PDF]
• SafeWork South Australia [PDF]
• Uniting World [PDF]
• Ms Rosie Wong [PDF]

A summary of views expressed in public consultations was tabled in Parliament on 18 August 2017.