The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) was signed at Nauru on 18 August 2001, at the Pacific Islands Forum. Twenty-four articles and an annex on trade facilitation, a single original in English; depositary the Secretary General of the Forum. It is not the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), and it is not PACER Plus, opened for signature in Nukuʻalofa in 2017.

The preamble invokes the ties among Forum members, sustainable development, the elimination of poverty and the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO. Article 2: a framework for the gradual integration of the Parties’ economies, support for the Forum Island Countries, a single regional market over time, and technical assistance. Article 3: guiding principles; PACER is not a customs union or a free-trade area notifiable under GATT Article XXIV. A framework, not a tariff list.

Articles 4–8: liberalisation among the Forum Island Countries first; eight years after PICTA enters into force, negotiations for reciprocal arrangements with Australia and New Zealand, unless triggered earlier; consultations if a Party negotiates a free-trade arrangement with a non-Forum country; special and differential treatment for least-developed countries and Small Island States; voluntary unilateral tariff reductions.

Articles 9–12: trade-facilitation programmes (Annex I); no less favourable treatment on sanitary, customs and standards matters among WTO members; financial and technical assistance administered by a unit within the Forum Secretariat; mutual assistance in international fora. Articles 13–17: no derogation from other agreements; notifications; consultations; annual review and a general review after three years; the Forum Secretariat as secretariat.

Articles 18–24: amendments by unanimous agreement; open for signature for one year at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, then ratification or accession, instruments deposited with the Secretary General; accession by other Pacific Island countries or territories by unanimous agreement; withdrawal effective after 180 days. Entry into force 30 days after the seventh instrument — 3 October 2002.

Cover: government buildings in the Yaren district of Nauru, in the years of the Forum; we do not claim the signing room. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations; Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (ATS 2004 No. 10).