Source: FSM Public Information Office
The Minister of Resources and Development of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Michael Konelios, urged the Micronesian Trade Committee (MTC) to “take bold but sound decisions†to broaden and deepen sub-regional cooperation and integration. Konelios made these comments during the opening of the 5th Meeting of the MTC that was held from June 29 to July 2, 2012 in Majuro, RMI.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Industries, and Commerce of Palau Jackson Ngiraingas, and Secretary of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Department of Resources and Development, Marion Henry who attended the meeting also reiterated the need to move forward on sub-regional integration on trade as well as other areas of common interest.
The objective of this meeting was for Trade Ministers of the three countries to focus collectively on trade issues of common interest.
Trade Ministers were concerned about the slow progress in EPA negotiations as a result of the delay by the EU to formally respond to the proposals that were submitted by the Pacific region in July last year. They were also concerned with the recent communications from the EU that seem to indicate that the EU is now trying to use the EPA to pursue its commercial interests in the fisheries sector rather than sticking to the original development objectives of EPA that are stipulated in the Cotonou Agreement. To this end, Trade Ministers stressed the need for the Pacific region to continue negotiating a development friendly comprehensive EPA as a single region and conclude the negotiations by the end of 2012 as directed by our Leaders.
The key issues that were highlighted by the Ministers include the extension of global sourcing rules of origin to tuna steaks and fillets and the provision of additional funding to enable the MTC Members to implement the EPA and to take advantage of the opportunities that may be offered by EPA. Ministers also emphasized the importance for regional and sub-regional organizations to coordinate their positions on EPA negotiations, in particular in the area of fisheries given its importance to the region.