---

FSM participates in the 2011 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): May 25, 2011 - FSM is participating in the 2011 Meeting of the Forum Trade Ministers being held at Puataukanave International Hotel, Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga. The opening of the two days Meeting (18 - 19 May 2011) was presided by the Honorable Noble Lord Tu'ivakano. The Meeting, which is attended by Trade Ministers and Head of Delegations of the 16 Forum Countries, New Caledonia and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), will focus discussions on Trade-related issues affecting the Forum Members, including: the operations and funding arrangements for the Office of the Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, the progress on the development of the 10-year Strategy for the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest Offices, developments relating to Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property, the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat's trade-related work programme with a focus on the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) and the review and Stocktake of Trade Facilitation Programmes underway in Pacific Island Countries.

One important issue on the agenda of the 2011 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting is the discussion on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus related issues with an emphasis on the Second and Third PACER Plus Officials Meeting, the Non-State Actors Dialogue on PACER Plus, the establishment and operation of the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA) for PACER Plus, and the way forward.

During this Meeting, FSM will be seeking further assistance from the PIFS to implement its trade policy, which was adopted by the Congress in January 2011. It is also anticipated that FSM and the two other Freely Associated States (Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau) will be seeking the assistance to enhance trade promotion and marketing in the US through the establishment of a Pacific Islands Trade and Investment office. Finally, the three FAS will be working closely to secure the necessary assistance to advance subregional integration and trade among themselves in the context of the Micronesia Trade Committee.

In preparation for the 2011 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting, Meetings of Forum Island Countries Trade Officials and Ministers were held on May 13-16, to coordinate Forum Island Countries position on PACER-Plus negotiations.

Attending the 2011 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting from the FSM Department of Resources and Development are Assistant Secretary for Trade and Investment, Mr. Ernest Weirlangt, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade, Ms. Camille Movick, and Mr. Jean Bertrand Azapmo, Trade Policy Analyst.