In brief: Prime Minister O’Neill on trade visit to China, and other business stories

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Prime Minister O’Neill on trade visit to China, state of emergency in Southern Highlands, and the future of trade tariffs on tuna exports to the UK. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Trade rules favour powerful countries but Papua New Guinea should push for influence, says WTO Director-General

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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azavedo, has described world trade rules as being tilted towards the interests of more powerful countries. Speaking in Port Moresby recently, he said it is up to the private sector to lobby governments to act on its behalf.

Five questions for: Edwini Kessie, Pacer Plus Chief Trade Adviser

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The long-awaited Pacer-Plus Pacific trade agreement is expected to be signed in early June, after the 14 Pacific countries concluded their talks in Brisbane last week. But Papua New Guinea and Fiji have said they will not participate. Business Advantage PNG asked World Trade Organisation negotiator, Edwini Kessie, what PNG is missing out on.

In brief: Newcrest sells Hidden Valley stake to Harmony and other business news

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Newcrest Mining sells its Hidden Valley stake to Harmony Gold, group marketing of coffee exports to South Korea and an agreement to ban harmful fisheries subsidies. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Chief Trade Adviser refutes claim that PACER Plus is a threat to Papua New Guinea manufacturing

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The regional PACER Plus trade agreement will not pose a threat to Papua New Guinea’s manufacturing sector, but could rejuvenate it, according to Edwini Kessie, Chief Trade Adviser of the Pacific Island Countries, who spoke with Business Advantage PNG.

Competitiveness and PNG goods

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Papua New Guinea’s producers are continuing to profit from the country’s unprecedented economic boom as well as high international commodity prices, but they still face a mighty array of challenges. Made in PNG asks what factors influence the demand for PNG goods at home and overseas. You might assume that, given its low per capita […]