Joint Committee and Budget Committee Meetings
13th Budget Committee Meeting 10th Joint Committee Meeting Information Note Meeting Procedures INVITATION – Host Welcome Dinner Island Tour Excursion Thirteenth PACER Plus Budget Committee Meeting (PPBC.13) Chair: Mrs Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Tonga Monday, 18 May – Tuesday, 19 May 2026 (GMT+13) Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Nuku’alofa, Tonga PROVISIONAL AGENDA Day 1 – Monday, 18 May 2026 Time Agenda 8:30am Opening Session Opening Prayer Welcome/Introduction by Chair Adoption of Agenda Drafting Committee Assignment Official Photo 9:00-9:30am Agenda 1: Final Report DEC Work Programme 2021-2025 Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/1 – Final Report DEC Work Programme 2021-2025 PPBC.13/1 – Annex 1 – 2021-2025 DEC Work Programme Report PPBC.13/2 – Annex 2 – Financial Report – 31 December 2025 9:30-10:00am Agenda 2: Report on PPIU Transition Workplan & Financial Report to 30 April 2026 Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/2 – Report on PPIU Transition Workplan & Financial Report to 31 April 2026 PPBC.13/2 Annex 1 – Transition Workplan Report PPBC.13/2 Annex 2 – Financial Report period ending 30 April 2026 10:00-10:30am Morning Tea 10:30-11:30am Agenda 3: Draft PACER Plus MELA Logical Framework 2026-2030 Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/3 – Draft PACER Plus MELA Logical Framework 2026-2030 PBBC.13/3 Annex 1 – PACER Plus MELA Logical Framework 11:30-1:00pm Agenda 4: Draft DEC Work Programme 2026-2030 Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/4 – Draft DEC Work Programme 2026-2030 PPBC.13/4 Annex 1 – PACER Plus DEC Work Programme 2026-2030 1:00-2:00pm Lunch 2:00-2.30pm Agenda 5: Update on External Audit Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/5 – PPIU External Audit Financial Year (FY) 2025-2026 2:30-3:00pm Agenda 6: Revised Operations Manual Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/6 – Revised Operations Manual PPBC.13/6 – Annex 1 – EOI Review of Operations Manual PPBC.13/6 – Annex 2 – Gap Analysis V1.1 3.00-3:30pm Agenda 7: Updated Risk Management Register Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/7 – Updated Risk Management Register PPBC.13/7 Annex 1 – Risk Assessment & Risk Register 3.30pm Afternoon Tea and End of Day 1 Day 2 – Tuesday, 19 May 2026 Time Agenda 8:30am Opening Session 9:00-11:30am Agenda 8: Draft Annual Plan FY 2026/2027 Budget Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/8 – Draft Annual Plan FY 2026/2027 Budget PPBC.13/8 Annex 1 – Annual Plan for FY 2026/2027 and Budget PPBC.13/8 Annex 1 – REVISED Annual Plan for FY2026/2027 and Budget PPBC.13/8 Annex 1 A1 – Costed FY26/27 Annual Plan 10:30-11:00am Morning Tea 11:00-11:30am Agenda 8 continued 11:30-12:00pm Agenda 9: Update – Report on Implementation of Review Recommendations Meeting Paper: PPBC.13/9 – Update – Report on Implementation of Review Recommendations PPBC.13/9 Annex 1 – Report on Review Recommendations 12:00-12:30pm Agenda 10: Any Other Business 12:30-2:30pm Lunch 1:30-2:30pm Drafting Committee to consider draft Summary of Discussions (Outcomes) 2:30-3:00pm Agenda 10: Adoption of the Summary of Discussions (Outcomes) of the Thirteenth Meeting of the Budget Committee 3:00-3:30pm Close of Meeting Concluding Remarks by Chair Closing Prayer 3.30pm Afternoon Tea and End of Day 2 Meeting Papers: PPBC.13/1 – Final Report DEC Work Programme 2021-2025 PPBC.13/2 – Report on PPIU Transition Workplan & Financial Report to 31 March 2026 PPBC.13/3 – Draft PACER Plus MELA Framework 2026-2030 PPBC.13/4 – Draft DEC Work Programme 2026-2030 PPBC.13/5 –Update on External Audit PPBC.13/6- Revised Operations Manual PPBC.13/7 – Updated Risk Management Register PPBC.13/8 – Draft Annual Plan FY 2026/2027 Budget PPBC.13/9 – Update – Report on Implementation of Review Recommendations Tenth Meeting of the PACER Plus Joint Committee (PPJC.10) Chair: Mrs Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Tonga 21-22 May 2026 (GMT+13) Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Nuku’alofa, Tonga Provisional Agenda Day 1 – Thursday, 21 May 2026 Time Agenda 8:30am Registration 8:45am Arrival of Guest of Honour 9:00am – 9:30am Opening Ceremony (Government of Tonga) Invocation by Rev. Penisimani Tonga Keynote address by Acting Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED), Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni Benediction by Rev. Penisimani Tonga 9:35am – 10:00am Official Group Photo and Morning Tea 10:05am Opening of Meeting and Adoption of Agenda Remarks by Chair Remarks by Head of PPIU Adoption of Agenda Drafting Committee Assignment 10:30am Agenda 1: Implementation of decisions from the ninth Joint Committee meeting Report by the PPIU (Information Paper) Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/1 – Implementation of decisions from the ninth Joint Committee meeting 10:45am Agenda 2: Governance, Institutional Arrangements 1. Report of the CTG Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.1 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin and Customs Procedures PPJC.10/2.1 Annex 1 – Summary of Discussions, CTG.07 PPJC.10/2.1 Annex 2 – Component 1 and 2 Project Proposals 2. Report of the SPS.TBT Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.2 – Report of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade PPJC.10/2.2 Annex 1 – Summary of Discussions, SPS.TBT.06 PPJC.10/2.2 Annex 2 – Component 3 and 4 Project Proposals 3. Report of the SMNPI Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.3 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Services, Movement of Natural Persons and Investment PPJC.10/2.3 Annex 1 – Summary of Discussions, SMNPI.08 PPJC.10/2.3 Annex 2 – Component 5 and 6 Project Proposals 4. Report of the LMWG Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.4 – Report of the PACER Plus Labour Mobility Working Group PPJC.10/2.4 Annex 1 – Summary of Discussions, PPLMWG.14 PPJC.10/2.4 Annex 2 – LM Project Proposals PPJC.10/2.4 Annex 3 – Draft ALM Amendment 5. Report of the Budget Committee Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.5 – Report of the Budget Committee PPBC.13 Summary of Discussions (ADOPTED 19 MAY) 6. Review of Terms of Reference for Joint Committee, Budget Committee and Subsidiary Bodies Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/2.6 – Review of Terms of Reference for Joint Committee, Budget Committee and Subsidiary Bodies 12:00pm Agenda 3: Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM) Amendment Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/3 – ALM Amendment PPJC.10/3 – Annex 1 – ALM Amendment 12:30pm Lunch 1:30pm Agenda 4: MELA Logframe Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/4 – MELA Logframe PPJC.10/4 Annex 1 – MELA Logframe 2:00pm Agenda 5: DEC Work Programme Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/5 – DEC Work Programme PPJC.10/5 Annex 1 – Draft DEC Work Programme 2:30pm Agenda 6: PPIU Strategic Plan Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/6 – PPIU Strategic Plan PPJC.10/6 Annex 1 – PPIU Strategic Plan 2026-2030 3:00pm Agenda 7: Annual Plan FY2026-2027 Meeting Paper: PPJC.10/7 – Annual Plan FY2026-2027 PPJC.10/7 Annex 1 – REVISED Annual Plan FY 2026-2027 PPJC.10/7 Annex
Tenth Meeting of the PACER Plus Joint Committee
Ninth Joint Committee Meeting (PPJC.09)
25-26 November 2025Honiara, Solomon Islands DAY 1 – MEETING AGENDA & PAPERS DAY 2 – MEETING AGENDA & PAPERS EVENING RECEPTION MEETING PROCEDURES INFORMATION NOTE DELEGATION LIST TUESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2025 8:00am Registration 9:00am Opening of Meeting and Adoption of Agenda Opening Devotion/Prayer Remarks by Chair Adoption of Agenda Drafting Committee Assignment 9:30am Agenda Item 1: Report of the DEC Work Programme 2021/2025 Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.01 – Report of the DEC Work Programme 2021/2025 (Cover Paper) PPJC.09/D.01 Annex 1 – Report of the DEC Work Programme 2021/2025 Report of the DEC Work Programme – Annex 1 10:00am Morning Tea 10:15am Agenda Item 2: Report of the Budget Committee Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.02 – Report of the Budget Committee PPJC.09/D.02 Annex 1-PPBC.12 Outcomes PPJC.09/D.02 Annex 2 – PACER Plus Annual Report PPJC.09/D.02 Annex 3.1 – Audit Representation Letter PPJC.09/D.02 Annex 3.2 – Audited Financial Statement 10:45am Agenda Item 3: Regional Trade Discussion Review of the Regional Architecture: Pacific Island Forum Leaders Decisions Forum Trade Ministers Meeting (FTMM) Outcomes Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.03 – Regional Trade Discussion PPJC.09/D.03 Annex 1 – Final HLPT Report for PIFL PPJC.09/D.03 Annex 2 – 54th PIF Leaders Communique 12:00pm Lunch 1:00pm Agenda Item 4: Arrangement on Labour Mobility (Update) New text Inclusion and resourcing of LM in the DEC Work Programme PLMAM PRLMP Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.04 – Arrangement on Labour Mobility(second version – updated as per PLMAM 18 Nov) 1:30pm Joint Committee Temporary Working Group Report PPJC.09/D.11 – Joint Committee Temporary Working Group ReportPPJC.09/D.11 Annex 1 – PPJC WG OutcomesPPJC.09/D.11 Annex 2 – Matrix of Priority RecommendationsPPJC.09/D.11 Annex 3 – PACER Plus Review Synthesis Report 2:30pm Closing Prayer End of Day 1 Afternoon Tea WEDNESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2025 9:00am Opening Prayer 9:15am Agenda Item 5: Extension of the Implementing Arrangement (IA) for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus Consideration of Legal Documents: Draft Implementing Arrangement 2025-2030 – for approval Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.05 – Extension of the Implementing Arrangement (IA) for Development and Economic Cooperation under PACER Plus PPJC.09/D.05 Annex 1 – Draft Phase II Implementing Arrangement for Development and Economic Cooperation under the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus PPJC.09/D.06 – Proposed Administrative Arrangements for PPIU Transition PPJC.09/D.06 Annex 1 – Action Plan on PPIU Administrative Arrangements (Updated 14 November) 10:00am Agenda Item 6: DEC Work Programme 2025-2030 Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.07 – DEC Work Programme 2025-30 10:45am Morning Tea 11:00am Agenda Item 7: PACER Plus Membership and Strategic Partnerships Accession Strategic Partnership Meeting Paper:PPJC.09/D.08 – Membership and Strategic Partnerships (Updated 17 November)PPJC.09/D.08 Annex 1 – Guideline for PACER Plus Accession (Updated 17 Nov) 12:00pm Lunch 1:00pm Agenda Item 8: Ministerial Communique Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.09 – Communique draft PPJC.09/D.09 Annex 1 – Communique draft 1:45pm Agenda Item 9: Tenth Joint Committee Meeting Meeting Paper: PPJC.09/D.10 – Tenth Joint Committee Meeting (Updated 13 November) 2:15pm Agenda Item 10: Any Other Business 2:45pm Agenda Item 11: Drafting Committee to finalise Outcomes Summary 3:00pm Afternoon Tea 3:30pm Agenda Item 12: Adoption of the Outcomes of the 9th Meeting of the Joint Committee 4:00pm Close of Meeting End of Meeting Welcome Reception for JC Officials Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 6:30pm-8:30pmVenue: Coral Sea Resort MEETING PROCEDURES 1. Language of the meeting English will be the medium of communication throughout the meeting, whether in-person or virtual. 2. Code of Conduct All individuals are to engage and treat each other in a respectful, professional, and productive manner. Individuals should: Be punctual to meetings Mindful of others’ views Inclusive Mindful of the time allocated to agenda items Be present for the full duration of the meeting 3. Chairing of the Meeting The Joint Committee will be chaired on an annual basis, by calendar year. The Party chairing the Joint Committee will also Chair the Ministerial Meeting for that year. The Party will remain the Chair until 31 December of the year in which they chair. A rotational schedule for the chairing of meetings was developed in alphabetical order. 4. PACER Plus Implementation Unit The PACER Plus Implementation Unit is mandated to assist with the preparation and hosting of meetings. This includes, but is not limited to, coordinating dates and logistics, drafting and organising agenda and papers, and reporting outcomes, as directed by the Joint Committee. The Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit is the highest official of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) and will speak on behalf of the PPIU and support the Chair as required. 5. Agenda In cooperation with the Chair, the provisional agenda will be prepared by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit and circulated to the Joint Committee for consideration and approval for commencement of logistics for the meeting. The agenda will be formally adopted at the beginning of the meeting. 6. Decision-making In accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 12 of the PACER Plus, decisions of the meeting will be made through consultation and consensus among the Parties. Consensus will be deemed to have been reached if no Party present at any meeting, when a decision is taken formally, objects to the proposed decision. For the purpose of seeking decisions or comments from the meeting, a meeting paper with objectives and proposed recommendations shall be submitted to Parties ahead of the meeting to seek decision on. During the meeting, the Chair will facilitate decision-making on proposed recommendations as provided in the meeting paper or otherwise. Matters on which consensus cannot be reached, the Chair may refer the matter to the Joint Committee for further consultation before it is resubmitted to the meeting for decision. 7. Summary of Discussions (Reporting) and Drafting Committee The PPIU will prepare the draft a Summary of Discussions which will be circulated to the Drafting Committee at the end of the meeting each day. The Drafting Committee will be responsible for reviewing the draft before its circulation to the Joint Committee for adoption at the conclusion of the meeting. The Summary of Discussions will be adopted at the conclusion of the meeting. The Drafting Committee will consist
Ninth PACER Plus Joint Committee
Eighth Joint Committee Meeting (PPJC.08)
Day 1 – Agenda & Meeting papers Day 2 – Agenda & Meeting papers Information papers Meeting procedures Information note Delegation List (as at 6 May) Eighth Joint Committee Meeting5-6 May 2025, Honiara, Solomon Islands AGENDA Monday, 5 May 8:00am Registration 8:30am Cultural Welcoming Venue: Courtyard outside Alvaro Room (Meeting Venue)Official Photograph 9:00am Opening of Meeting and Adoption of Agenda Opening Devotion/Prayer Remarks by Chair Remarks by Head of PPIU Adoption of Agenda Drafting Committee Assignment 9:30am Agenda 1: Report of the Head of the PPIU on the DEC Work Programme implementation 10:00am Morning Tea 10:15am Agenda 2: Reports of the Subsidiary BodiesPaper: PPJC.08/D.01 – Report of the Subsidiary Bodies (Cover Paper) – Updated from meeting Annex 1 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin and Customs Procedures Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 1 & 2 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 2,3 and 4 Attachment 3 – CTG.06 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 2 – Report of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 3 & 4 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 5 & 6 Attachment 3 – SPS.TBT.05 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 3 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Services, MNP and Investment Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 5 & 6 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 7, 8 & 9 Attachment 3 – SMNPI.07 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 4 – Report of the Labour Mobility Working Group Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for the Labour Mobility Work Programme Attachment 2 – PPLMWG.13 Meeting Summary of Discussions 11:15am Agenda 3: Report of the Budget Committee Cover Paper: PPJC.08/D.13 Outcome of the PPBC.11Annex 1 – Outcomes Document of the 11th Meeting of the PPBC 3.1 Report and Recommendations of the External Audit (BDO)Paper: PPJC.08/D.02 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – Representation Letter Audit for the Year ended 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024Annex 2 – PPIU Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024Annex 3 – PPIU Audit Completion Letter for the year ended 30 June 2024 Annex 4 – Independent Auditors Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements 3.2 Report and Recommendations of the Internal Audit (KPMG)Paper: PPJC.08/D.03 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – Internal Audit Report 3.3 Report and Recommendations of the PPIU Corporate Review (KPMG)Paper: PPJC.08/D.04 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – PPIU Independent Corporate Assessment 3.4 Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MELA) UpdatePaper: PPJC.08/D.05 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – MELA Report to Committee on TiG, RoO & Customs ProceduresAnnex 2 – MELA Report to Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures & Technical Barriers to TradeAnnex 3 – MELA Report to Committee on TiS, MNP & InvestmentAnnex 4 – MELA Report to PACER Plus Labour Mobility Working GroupAnnex 5 – PACER Plus Learning Report 3.5 Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) UpdatePaper: PPJC.08/D.06 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – Concept Note PACER Plus Inclusive Trade Roadmap 3.6 Revisions to the PPIU Operations Manual (Currently under consideration by the Budget Committee)Paper: PPJC.08/D.07 (No Paper presented) 12:15pm Lunch 1:30pm Agenda 4: Revised FY24-25 Annual Plan and Budget Paper: PPJC.08/D.08 (Cover Paper) – Updated from meetingAnnex 1 – PPIU Costed Annual Plan FY24-25Annex 2 – ASYCUDA Proposal_Cook Islands_Tonga_PPIUAnnex 2 continued – ASYCUDA Proposal_Sol IS_PPIU 3:00pm Afternoon Tea 3:45pm Close of Day 1 4:00-6:30pm Kava Drinking Session (Optional for attendance) Guests: All delegates to the 8th PACER Plus Joint Committee Meeting Venue: Alvaro Conference Room (Meeting Conference Room), Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel 6:30-9:30pm (TBC) Welcome Reception Hosted by Government of Solomon Islands Dinner: Buffet StyleGuests: All delegates to the 8th PACER Plus Joint Committee MeetingDress Code: Island TropicalVenue: The Courtyard, Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel Eighth Joint Committee Meeting5-6 May 2025, Honiara, Solomon Islands AGENDA Monday, 5 May 8:00am Registration 8:30am Cultural Welcoming Venue: Courtyard outside Alvaro Room (Meeting Venue)Official Photograph 9:00am Opening of Meeting and Adoption of Agenda Opening Devotion/Prayer Remarks by Chair Remarks by Head of PPIU Adoption of Agenda Drafting Committee Assignment 9:30am Agenda 1: Report of the Head of the PPIU on the DEC Work Programme implementation 10:00am Morning Tea 10:15am Agenda 2: Reports of the Subsidiary BodiesPaper: PPJC.08/D.01 – Report of the Subsidiary Bodies (Cover Paper) – Updated from meeting Annex 1 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin and Customs Procedures Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 1 & 2 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 2,3 and 4 Attachment 3 – CTG.06 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 2 – Report of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 3 & 4 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 5 & 6 Attachment 3 – SPS.TBT.05 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 3 – Report of the Committee on Trade in Services, MNP and Investment Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for Components 5 & 6 Attachment 2 – Status of Implementation of Treaty Obligations for Chapters 7, 8 & 9 Attachment 3 – SMNPI.07 Meeting Summary of Discussions Annex 4 – Report of the Labour Mobility Working Group Attachment 1 – Status of Implementation of FY24/25 Annual Plan activities for the Labour Mobility Work Programme Attachment 2 – PPLMWG.13 Meeting Summary of Discussions 11:15am Agenda 3: Report of the Budget Committee Cover Paper: PPJC.08/D.13 Outcome of the PPBC.11Annex 1 – Outcomes Document of the 11th Meeting of the PPBC 3.1 Report and Recommendations of the External Audit (BDO)Paper: PPJC.08/D.02 (Cover Paper) – Updated