Niue

Niue is a beneficiary of the EU's Standard GSP. The small island economy did not make use of its preferential access to the European market in recent years. Total EU imports from Niue in 2022 amounted to € 712,000.

What is the GSP?

The Standard GSP targets developing countries that are classified by the World Bank as lower or lower-middle income countries and which do not have equal preferential access to the EU market through any other arrangement. Standard GSP beneficiary countries can benefit from duty suspension for non-sensitive products as well as duty reductions for sensitive products across approximately 66% of all EU tariff lines.

Niue flag

At a glance: GSP beneficiaries' preferential imports to the EU

group

1.624 (2018)

Population

account_balance
Parliamentary Democracy

Government

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6.5% (est)

GDP Growth

equalizer

15.4% (est)

Inflation

money

$ 43 M

GDP

- -

Freedomhouse index

- -

ITUC Global Rights Index

- -

Environmental Performance Index

Facts about Niue's economy

Island Economy

Niue is a small island economy in the South Pacific Ocean. The country faces significant restrictions due its remote location, small domestic market, and limited resources. This leaves Niue largely dependent on financial support from New Zealand.

Export Products

Niue's most important export products are ships and boats followed by coins and optical instruments. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is another important source of revenues.

Trade Partners

Niue mostly engages in regional trade, with Indonesia being the most important destination for Niue's export products. Other important, though minor export markets for Niue's products are the Czech Republic and the United States.

Economic Structure

Agriculture is the main pillar of Niue's economy, particularly the cultivation of passion fruits, coconuts, pawpaw, and limes. The processing of these agricultural products is one of the few manufacturing activities in the island.

Usage of GSP Preferences

In 2022, less than 1%, of Niue's exports to the European market are eligible for reduced tariffs granted under the Standard GSP. Between 2017 and 2022 there were no imports from Niue which made use of the preferential market access.

Trade with the EU

Overall trade with the EU was € 1 million in 2022.

Niue and the EU (2022)

Imports from Niue by product section

Imports from Niue over time (in € m)

NIUE AND THE EU’s GSP

Economic Impact

1%

Only about 1% of Niue's exports are eligible for GSP preferences.

0%

Niue currently does not make use of preferences granted under the EU's GSP.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

Niue's imports to the EU

Preference Utilisation vs. total eligible imports

The largest product sections under the GSP

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

As a beneficiary of the Standard GSP, Niue's preferential market access is not bound to the ratification of international conventions. Out of all 15 core conventions on human rights and labour standards, Niue has only ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, Niue has ratified 6 international environmental protection conventions and 2 conventions on good governance.

Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards

Ratified

  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)

Not Ratified

  • Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
  • International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
  • International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
  • Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
  • Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
  • Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
  • Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
  • Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
  • Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
  • Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
  • Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
  • Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)

Additional Conventions

  • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
  • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
  • Stockholm Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
  • United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
  • United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)

EU-Niue Bilateral Development Assistance

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-Pacific Islands Countries relations on the International Partnerships website: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/pacific-islands-countries_en

Opportunities in Niue

  • Potential for further development in the tourism sector

Contact points