Pacific MPs hold firm against 'bullying' EU trade negotiators
Posted
Pacific parliamentarians say they have made progress after this week's trade negotiations with the European Union in Papua New Guinea.
The European Union had been accused of bullying Pacific Nations into Economic Partnership Agreements, known as EPAs, on trade and development.
The EU had been pushing pacific countries to drop export taxes on products such as timber, to maintain their free trade privileges in Europe.
Pacific negotiator Jim Gosselin says there are signs such requests will be dropped.
"We've had indications from the political side of the European Union, from the European council, that they are looking at being much more flexible," he said.
The Pacific and the EU will hold more talks on trade and other issues such as climate change in Vanuatu next week.
Search for news
ABC News Online takes a look at the big stories from 2008.
