21 October 2026
This week Customs officials from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have joined a Sub-Regional Virtual Dialogue on the Implementation of the Rules of Origin (RoO) under the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement (MSGTA).
The two-hour virtual dialogue was jointly organised by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat and the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) Secretariat. It aimed to improve the technical knowledge of Customs officials and support more consistent application of the MSGTA Rules of Origin across its Member countries.
Rules of Origin determine whether goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the MSGTA. Differences in national procedures, verification practices, operational approaches and technical capacity can lead to inconsistent interpretation and application of the RoO, creating uncertainty and additional compliance challenges for traders.
Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Dr Anna Naupa, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the MSG Trade Agreement deliver meaningful benefits for Member countries. “Consistent application of the Rules of Origin is essential to building confidence in intra-regional trade, supporting businesses, and advancing deeper economic integration across Melanesia,” Dr Naupa said.
The programme included a policy refresher led by Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue Department (CIR), presentations by Members on current Certificate of Origin procedures, verification practices, operational challenges and country-level experiences, providing an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and identification of capacity needs for future trainings.
Mr George Pakoa, Manager at Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue Department led a technical session on practical Rules of Origin scenarios, verification case studies and common interpretation challenges.
Ms. Laisiana Tugaga, Head of the OCO Secretariat, emphasised the value of practical cooperation and experience-sharing among Customs administrations. “This dialogue provides an important platform for Members to compare their approaches, address common operational challenges and identify practical solutions that support more consistent and effective implementation of the MSGTA Rules of Origin,” Ms. Tugaga said.
The Dialogue will serve as a stepping-stone towards identifying future capacity-building and technical assistance priorities. The outcomes of the virtual session will also contribute to strengthening information exchange, origin verification practices, and ongoing cooperation among the MSG Secretariat, OCO Secretariat, and Customs administrations within the Membership.
