Page 28 - IB JAN 2019

Politics

A Forum in Limbo?

By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola

Eleven days after the Nauru PIF Leaders’ Meeting last Sep-
tember, the Premier of Niue, Sir Toke Talagi, said on Radio New
Zealand that “the Pacific Islands Forum is stuck in limbo and SPARTECA was critical for the growth of garment factories like this one in Fiji.
making little progress.” Considering Sir Toke’s standing in the
region, having been in various leadership roles for his country by his lack of success in trying to increase funding for climate
and in the region since 2002 and the timing of the statement after change activities and by his dissatisfaction with the fisheries
the Forum’s premier annual gathering, it can be said that such an license systems not doing enough to combat illegal fishing. He
utterance was made with much thought. As such, it should not also implied the lack of capacity building in Niue and, as such, he
be taken lightly. However, it can be subjected to close analysis is considering appointing youth ambassadors to be posted out to
to get to the nub of the issue; which can help to re-direct our various Forum countries to learn about these issues.
compass to re-set Pacific regionalism; and to the realisation of It can be envisaged therefore that the situation depicted by the
our collective aspirations. Premier is best characterised by the Forum being ‘in limbo’ rather
Purely from a pedantic linguistic perspective, Sir Toke’s state- than ‘stuck in limbo.’ Being ‘in limbo’ carries the meaning that
ment is oxymoronic. To be ‘stuck in limbo’ implies that one or whilst the Forum may depict conditions of neglect and oblivion
something is unable to move from one position to another. It fol- - specifically or generally, these do not rule out moving from one
lows therefore that one or something cannot make any progress position to another. This article assumes such an analytical lens
when ‘stuck in limbo’. However, Sir Toke clarified that the Forum to assess one aspect of Pacific regionalism, aimed essentially at
was making progress, albeit, little. He substantiated his comment securing learnings to direct our way forward.
In 1971, the inaugural meeting of the then South Pacific Forum
was a joint one that followed separate meetings of two caucuses
– one for the founding five independent Pacific Island Countries
TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN NAURU and the other for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). In a 2015
Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd., of Dallas Building, 7 Victoria report to Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, does hereby provide notice that it claims Cooperation, I listed 14 issues identified by the 1971 Joint Com-
proprietorship of the trade mark munique (the only one to date) for regionalism. Those that were
aimed at regional economic integration included ‘the possibility
of establishing an economic union.’
An economic union is a type of trade bloc which is composed
of a common market with a customs union. A common market is
in relation to: an economic association of nations created to: (i) abolish barriers
to free trade among members, and (ii) to adopt common market
Paper, cardboard and stationery including printing paper, writing and import duties on goods from other countries. A customs union
drawing paper, typewriting paper, blue print paper, white paper board,
postcard paper, tissue paper, copying tissue paper, paper for facsimile use, is an association of independent nations or tariff areas created to
letter paper, tablets pad, loose leaf paper, notebook, sketchbook, exercise remove customs barriers between them and to adopt a uniform
book, writing pad, carbonless copying paper; adhesive-backed note pad, tariff policy toward non-member nations – a common external
paper file, stickers, envelopes, account book, ruled paper, pocket paper, tariff (CET). Economic union is established through trade pact.
memo paper, wrapping and packaging paper and materials; tissues, Members of an economic union, therefore, have common
copying paper
policies on product regulation, freedom of movement of goods,
Business management; business administration; direct marketing, product services, capital and labour. The Forum, given the various restric-
marketing, wholesale services for pulp, paper, paperboard and paper tions that still apply today, is yet to achieve this situation.
products. The Forum is thus short of its target, even though it has taken
steps to start its journey. Wesley Morgan, writing in 2014 had
Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd. cautions that any use of the
trade mark or any confusingly similar trade mark in relation to any of these goods said: “Over the four decades since, a political commitment to
and services or similar goods and services, would be seen as infringement of regional integration has waxed and waned.” The Forum, given
their rights and that they will take such action deemed necessary to protect those the time that this concept has been in gestation, is in limbo.
rights. The Forum’s first trade pact was established in 1981. ANZ, in
response to a proposal by the then five Forum Island Countries
Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd. can be contacted care of their
address for service: (FICs), created the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic
Agreement (SPARTECA). This was a preferential, non-reciprocal
AJ Park, Level 22, Aon Centre, 1 Willis Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand trade agreement. ANZ offered market access to the FICs under
specific Rules of Origin (ROO). The results were mixed. For

28 Islands Business, January 2019