Niue National Trade Facilitation Committee Meeting Convenes

The National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) met on Thursday, 18th December, to review progress and advance ongoing efforts to improve trade processes and coordination across relevant agencies. Member Assisting Minister Ricky Makani emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, stating “Niue’s trade system must work as one system if we are to reduce costs and improve competitiveness.”

The meeting brought together representatives from key government departments and private sector stakeholders to discuss priorities related to trade facilitation, border management, and the implementation of recent reforms aimed at reducing trade costs and improving efficiency.

Mr Julien Blisener, Associate Economic Affairs Officer from the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD). Joined virtually and provided an overview of the recent completion of Niue’s Non-Tariff Measures data collection under the EU-funded IMPACT project.

Members received updates from key sectors such as Customs, Biosecurity and the Regulator Office on current trade facilitation initiatives. They identified challenges affecting trade operations and discussed practical measures to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in line with Niue’s national development objectives and regional trade commitments.

The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing transparency, streamlining procedures, and supporting a more enabling trade environment for local businesses and traders. Members also reviewed governance mechanisms and highlighted the importance of continued stakeholder engagement and capacity-building to ensure effective implementation of agreed actions.

The Committee noted the timely meeting alongside Niue’s ongoing accession to the IEPA with the EU and stressed the need to align trade facilitation efforts to support exports once ratification is completed. Members also welcomed the extension of the PACER Plus DEC Work Programme, supported by Australia and New Zealand, as an opportunity to strengthen capacity building and advance reforms to further integrate Niue into regional and global trade frameworks.

The National Trade Facilitation Committee will continue to meet regularly to monitor progress and provide strategic guidance on trade facilitation reforms. The Committee acknowledges the PACER Plus Implementation Unit for its assistance in supporting the meeting.

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