European Union and Papua New Guinea review Trade Relations

A mission from the European Commission Directorate General for Trade in Brussels (Belgium) will visit Papua New Guinea during the week of 17 February. The mission will be led by Mr Eelke Postema, Trade Affairs

Manager for the Pacific. The team also includes Trade Coordinator, Mr Yves Lecompte. The team will visit

Port Moresby from 17-19 February and then go to Lae from 20-21 February before leaving for Solomon

Islands and Fiji.

European Union Ambassador Dihm in announcing the visit said, "The main objective of the mission is to

review and discuss the implementation of the Trade Agreement between Papua New Guinea and the

European Union (interim Economic Partnership Agreement iEPA). This Agreement has delivered strong

benefits in terms of investments and jobs. The team will have a close look at its implementation and how it

can be further strengthened to deliver even more benefits in future."

The EU trade team will pay a courtesy call on Hon. Richard Maru, Minister for Trade, Commerce & Industry,

and meet with relevant officers of the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry - Trade Division. The

team will then have exchanges with PNG Customs officials and the PNG private sector stakeholders both in

Port Moresby and in Lae. Among other issues, the mission will discuss the agenda for the upcoming 4th iEPA

Trade Committee Meeting which is the high level forum under iEPA. This is proposed to be held later this

year at the EU Headquarters in Brussels (Belgium). The Committee will for the first time also see the

participation of Fiji, which have recently decided to implement the agreement.

Already today the European Union is the largest importer of Papua New Guinea's non mineral exports in

particular agricultural and fishery products. Exports have risen considerably following the conclusion of the

Trade Agreement five years ago. The Agreement allows for duty free and quota free access to the large

European Union market for all products made in Papua New Guinea.