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Micronesian Trade Committee

About Us

The Micronesian Trade Committee (MTC) is a sub-regional trade and economic cooperation and integration initiative. The idea of establishing a “Micronesian Block” to address trade and trade-related issues affecting the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Palau (Palau), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) was first discussed in 2007, during the 7th Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS) held in September 2007, in Chuuk, FSM. During that Summit, the Presidents of the FSM, RMI and Palau directed their trade Ministers to explore the possibility of establishing a Micronesian Trade Committee. The MTC was formally established during the 1st MTC Meeting held on July 3, 2008, in Pohnpei, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Article 1 of the MOU states that “the three Governments hereby establish a MTC to strengthen their sub-regional collaboration and integration efforts by enhancing their trade capacities and coordinating and promoting their positions on trade issues of mutual interest.”

Our vision

To establish a Micronesian block to achieve sustainable and equitable socio-economic development of the Member States and improve the standard and quality of life of their People, with a view to contributing to the progress and development of Asia and the Pacific Region.

Our Members

The MTC is presently made up of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Palau (Palau), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). We envisage expanding our Membership to other Micronesian Countries and Territories: Kiribati, Nauru, Guam and CNMI.

Our Organization

Micronesia Presidents’ Summit
MTC Ministers Meeting
MTC Officials Meeting
Technical Working Groups
MTC Interim Secretariat

Program and Current Work

1) Upgrading of the MOU establishing the MTC into a treaty

Draft treaty developed and circulated and preliminary comments received;
National consultations conducted in the FSM, RMI and Palau, January and March, 2014;
Meeting of the Working Group scheduled for June 30-July1, 2014 in Palau

2) Micronesian trade agreement negotiations and establishment of a permanent Secretariat

TAR to negotiate and implement a trade agreement prepared and submitted to USAID;
MTC Aid for Trade matrix prepared and submitted in the context of the EPA negotiations;
MTC interim financial arrangements: financial regulations developed, signed by Ministers and entered into force; and
MTC bank account opened at the Bank of Guam.

3) Policy cooperation and coordination

Follow-up activities carried out with SPC on the pest survey;
exchange of information undertaken with respect to immigration policies of the three Countries; and
collaborative work initiated with the Micronesian Association of Sustainable Aquaculture (MASA).

4) Ongoing trade negotiations involving MTC Member States

Coordination of negotiating positions during EPA and PACER Plus negotiations round; and
updates provided to the US Department of State on progress in EPA negotiations and prospects for the second round of consultations between the FAS and the US.

5) Awareness and sensitization during the following Conferences

Conference on Small Island Developing States, London September 2012;
Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific, November-December 2013;
Sub-Regional Consultations on the Development of Agreement establishing the Micronesian Association of Sustainable Aquaculture (MASA), May 2014; and
2014 FTMM in Tarawa, Kiribati.

Information

1) Legal documents, Joint Communiqué, and Final Communiqué

– Joint Communiqué, 7^th Micronesia Presidents’ Summit, September 2007

– Memorandum of July 3, 2008 establishing the Micronesian Trade Committee

– Final Communiqué, 12^th Micronesia Presidents’ Summit, July 2012

– Financial Regulations

2) Outcomes documents

3) Studies

4) Papers

– Paper presented at the Conference on Small Island Developing States, London September 2012

– Paper presented at the Sub-Regional Consultations on the Development of Agreement establishing the Micronesian Association of Sustainable Aquaculture (MASA), May 2014.