Fiji, April 5 -- Papua New Guinea will maintain its position of last 10 years not to be part of PACER Plus, says the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru.

He made this statement in his first meeting with the new Australian High Commissioner to PNG, John Feakes.

Maru said: "I want to make it very clear to the Australian government that PNG is not interested in the PACER Plus because Australia hardly buys from PNG with trade skewed in Australia's favour for decades."

PNG's exports to Australia in 2022 stood at AUD$1.6 billion (K4 billion) with over 98 percent being gold and other precious metals while Australia's exports to PNG stood at AUD$95.9 million (K240.5 million).

"So as far as we are concerned, it is poi...