SAMOA SIGNS PHASE II OF THE PACER PLUS IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT

SAMOA, November 27 - [PRESS RELEASE, 27th November 2025] – The Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour and Trade Negotiations, Honorable Fata Ryan Schuster has signed the Phase II of the Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) under the PACER Plus Agreement on behalf of Samoa during the 2025 PACER Plus Ministers Meeting on Thursday, 27th November 2025 in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The PACER Plus Agreement is a regional trade and development pact among 11 Pacific Island countries—Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu—together with Australia and New Zealand. After more than seven years of negotiations, the Agreement was concluded in April 2017 and signed in June 2017 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.

Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to ratify the PACER Plus Agreement on 22 July 2019, showing leadership in promoting regional trade in the Pacific.

Samoa is also host for the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), established in 2021 to help member countries carry out their trade related commitments and targeted needs under the DEC Work Programme.

A key feature from the Ministers Meeting was the announcement by Australia and New Zealand of renewed and increased funding for the next five-year cycle of the DEC Work Programme – AUD 23.2 million from Australia and NZD 10 million from New Zealand.

Ministers from member countries welcomed this commitment and proceeded to sign the Phase II Implementing Arrangement for DEC under the PACER Plus.

This second Phase will focus on strengthening capacity, improving market access, and supporting sustainable economic development across the Pacific. Samoa welcomes this renewed partnership and acknowledges the significant contribution of both governments.

In his national statement, Honourable Fata Ryan Schuster reaffirmed Samoa’s commitment to strengthening the PACER Plus Agreement to ensure that the priorities in the Work Programme continue to deliver practical development outcomes, noting:

“Samoa acknowledges the solid progress made under the PACER Plus Work Programme. As Parties, we each carry commitments, and it is important that this shared responsibility continues to guide how we move forward together. We remain committed to ensuring PACER Plus delivers real and lasting benefits for our region.”

The Minister also acknowledged the Governments of Australia and New Zealand for their ongoing financial, advisory and technical support under their Aid-for-Trade commitments.

He noted that this assistance is essential to the effective implementation of PACER Plus and to supporting member countries to build capacity and to meet their obligations.

The Government commends the Minister on the success of his first international trip. He was accompanied by Mr. Henry Tunupopo, ACEO Trade Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Ms. Leilua Sosefina Fa’amausili, Assistant Attorney General – Commercial and International Law; and Ms. Theresa Penn, Principal Foreign Service Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.