SUVA – The United States has announced it has reached an agreement on a financial package with Pacific Island Countries that are Parties to the Tuna Treaty.
A statement from its Embassy in Suva yesterday said the significant package 'exceeds the benchmarks articulated by Pacific Islands Leaders.'
Key issues pushed by Pacific in the negotiations were the fishing opportunities afforded to the US purse-seine fleet in waters under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Island Parties and the overall financial package.
On June 22, at the most recent negotiations in New Zealand, the US and the Pacific Island Parties reached an agreement on this critical issue, said the US Embassy statement.
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