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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, in close collaboration with the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Department, hosted a Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) and Rules of Origin workshop for stakeholders last week.
Participants in the workshop included officials from government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
In her opening remarks, Jenny Baril, Deputy Director for External Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, welcomed all participants and noted that while trade is conducted by the private sector, governments play an important role in developing the necessary policies to promote and monitor trade. She stressed that the PACER Plus Agreement provides an important opportunity for the Solomon Islands to participate more actively in and benefit from regional and international trade.
Ms Baril said since the agreement came into force on 13 December 2020, Australia and New Zealand have reduced tariffs to zero on products imported from PACER Plus countries, including the Solomon Islands, providing greater market access for our products into Australia and New Zealand.
However, these products must comply with the PACER Plus Rules of Origin requirements. Rules of origin are the criteria that must be met to determine the origin of a product and to qualify for preferential treatment. Local processors, exporters, customs officials, and customs brokers must be familiar with the PACER Plus Rules of Origin criteria.
Ms Barile said the rules of origin chapter of the agreement makes it easier for parties, including the Solomon Islands, to apply for these preferences or zero tariffs by setting out the conditions under which goods are deemed to be originating.
The objectives of the workshop are multifaceted and are critical to the successful implementation of this protocol.
The training covered the basic concepts of rules of origin, understanding the specific origin criteria under PACER Plus, and delved into the processes involved in origin certification.
It is designed to ensure that each participant leaves with a more comprehensive understanding of the rules and is able to apply this knowledge in daily operations.
Ms Barile said doing so would not only strengthen our compliance but also enhance our competitiveness in foreign trade.
“We hope this will increase our exports to Australia and New Zealand, boosting our economy,” she added.
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– MFAET Press Release
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