Marape-Rosso Government Set to Deliver New Trade Policy

The foundation NTP was launched by the O’Neil Government in 2017 when Minister Maru was then the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry. The Marape-Rosso Government had commenced the mid-term review of the NTP with the assistance of the PNG European Union (EU) Delegation.

Minister Maru said the mid-term review was necessary, from PNG’s national trade perspective, to ensure the NTP was on track to achieve its goals and recalibrate the country’s trade strategy in light of current national and global challenges.

“PNG’s trade performance and policy implementation over the past eight years need a thorough assessment so successes can be built and shortcomings addressed. The review will help PNG align its trade policy with recent domestic priorities such as the Medium-Term Development Plan 4 and post-COVID economic recovery, and external developments like environmental considerations, new market opportunities in Asia and evolving World Trade Organization rules. The review will enable PNG to adopt international best practices, foster stakeholder engagement, and ultimately ensure that trade policy remains effective and relevant,” said Minister Maru.

Essentially, the three main elements to review are:

1. A retrospective assessment of the NTP to take stock of the progress, determine how effective the policy measures have contributed to the attainment of the objectives, and identify key challenges with implementation.

2. A prospective assessment that takes into account the current and emerging trade issues at the international and national levels and recommends adjustments.

3. Review of the NTP’s Strategic Implementation Plan and integration of its findings.

Minister Maru directed the Policy Review Team to capture, among other issues:

● Moving away from Regional Trade Agreements that do not serve PNG’s national interest to focusing on Bilateral Trade Agreements;

● Placing emphasis on export of value-added finished products and high export taxes for raw products;

● Incentives for new products for exports, including support on certification and meeting standards;

● Transfer of Tariff Policy function from the Department of Treasury to the National Trade Office;

● The possibility of having legislation to guide and address challenges associated with Ease of Doing Business;

● Legislation to ensure that only bankable land with clear titles for large-scale Special Economic Zone development;

● Policy measures to strengthen the Kina and stop capital flights, including building a gold refinery and building PNG’s gold reserves in Bank of PNG;

● Using artificial intelligence to support and facilitate trade and investment initiatives; and

● A new electronic Single Window System to facilitate trade to replace the manual system used today.

The NTO will take the lead in the review. However, Minister Maru stressed that input from other Government departments and agencies, provincial representatives, and regulatory bodies was necessary to gauge cross-sectoral progress.

“The private sector and SMEs are being consulted to understand the on-the-ground impacts of the trade policy and persistent business barriers. Civil society and academic experts can offer insights on inclusiveness like the impacts on small farmers or women traders and provide evidence-based critiques. It is important for all concerned stakeholders to be part of the review that provide an opportunity to realign the NTP with current realities, ensuring its strategies remain relevant and fit for purpose in the face of climate change impacts, advances in information technology, commodity price fluctuations, potential global trade disruptions due to US tariffs and shifting investment patterns,” said Minister Maru.

The draft of the new Trade Policy will be delivered to Minister Maru and the National Executive Council by October 15, 2025, for approval before it is launched by the end of this year.

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