November 2, 2016

"Australia's strategic agreement on economic cooperation in the Pacific will be undermined when the region's two major economies formally announce they will not sign it.

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries have agreed in principle to the legal text of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus in August after Australia and New Zealand announced a joint funding package to facilitate legal changes and modern customs clearance systems within the Pacific.

Negotiations on market access provisions for the regional free trade and development deal were due to be concluded in October, with the treaty signed by the yearend, however the legal provisions show only eight of the 16-member state's signatures are needed for it to come into effect."

Read more:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-11/02/c_135800652.htm 

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