Papua New Guinea’s key trade agreements at multilateral level fall under the World Trade Organization.  Regional level trade agreements include the South Pacific Regional Trade, Economic and Commercial Agreement (SPARTECA), Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), and Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement (MSGTA).  The MSGTA is an important regional trade agreement between PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.  PNG has not concluded the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus) with Australia and New Zealand.  Papua New Guinea and Australia execute bilateral trade relations through the Trade and Commercial Relations Agreement (PATCRA).

In terms of Free Trade Agreements (FTA), there is the PNG-EU Economic Partnership Agreement for duty/quota free access for PNG’s selected products like fish, coffee, and other agriculture products. PNG is also in the process of finalizing two separate feasibility studies to establish FTAs with the PRC and Australia.  The findings of these studies and the outcome of these FTAs will be of interest to PNG businesses that trade with both countries.

See Investment Incentives and Opportunities in PNG through the PNG National Trade Office for more information.