EXCHANGE OF NOTES CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT ON THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA OF 6 NOVEMBER 1976

(Canberra - Waigani, 17 February-17 March 1982)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17 MARCH 1982
[Note from the Minister for Trade and Resources of Australia to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Papua New Guinea]

I
Minister for Trade and Resources
Parliament House
Canberra

17 February 1982

The Hon Noel Levi MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Parliament House
PORT MORESBY
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to discussions concerning the Agreement on Trade and Commercial Relations between the Government of Australia and the Government of Papua New Guinea signed at Port Moresby on 6 November 1976 (PATCRA) in the light of the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement done at Tarawa on 14 July 1980 (SPARTECA) which the Government of Australia has signed and the Government of Papua New Guinea has signed and ratified.
Having regard to the special historical and economic bilateral relationship between our two countries, I have the honour to propose that PATCRA rather than SPARTECA shall continue to govern trade and commercial relations between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
I confirm that separate discussions concerning the applicability to Papua New Guinea of rules of origin which apply under SPARTECA are desirable and should take place as soon as possible.
I have the honour to propose that if the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of Papua New Guinea this note and your confirmatory reply shall together constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall apply while PATCRA and SPARTECA are in force for both our Governments.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
[Signed:] 
(J D ANTHONY)
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Resources
[Note from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Papua New Guinea to the Minister for Trade and Resources of Australia.] 
II
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Papua New Guinea
17 March 1982 
The Rt. Hon J D Anthony, CH
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Resources
Parliament House
CANBERRA 
Sir 
I have the honour to refer to your note of 17 February 1982 which reads as follows: 
[Here follows text as printed under I.] 

I have the honour to confirm that the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of Papua New Guinea and that your note and this note of 17 March 1982 in reply shall together constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall be in force while PATCRA and SPARTECA are in force for both our Governments. 
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. 
[Signed:] 
(W NOEL LEVI)

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade