Trade and Health in the Pacific
The people of the Pacific Islands carry a heavy burden of non-communicable diseases. The roots of this epidemic are complex but many causative factors arise in the Pacific food environment (availability, convenience and relative prices). The food environment is powerfully influenced by trade agreements. The Pacific Island countries are presently participating in trade negotiations on two fronts: (i) the proposed PACER Plus agreement, and (ii) negotiations with the EU regarding the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
PHM Oz is collaborating with a number of other organisations including the Public Health Association of Australia to explore the impact of trade on health and development in the Pacific and to work with stakeholders in the Pacific to ensure that new trade agreements make it easier, not harder, to create a healthy food environment.
PHM Position Statement - PACER Plus and the Health of Pacific Islanders