HomeCountries & Areas…Papua New Guinea hide Papua New Guinea Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 3: Reconsider Travel Learn More U.S. Relationship These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Papua New Guinea U.S.-Papua New Guinea Relations U.S. Assistance to Papua New Guinea Bilateral Economic Relations U.S.-Papua New Guinea Relations The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea in 1975, following its independence from a United Nations trusteeship administered by Australia. As the most populous Pacific Island state (7.8 million: 2013 estimate), Papua New Guinea is important to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The country has experienced recent economic progress and has abundant energy, agricultural, and mineral The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea in 1975, following its independence from a United Nations trusteeship administered by Australia. As the most populous Pacific Island state (7.8 million: 2013 estimate), Papua New Guinea is important to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The country has experienced recent economic progress and has abundant energy, agricultural, and mineral resources. But it faces challenges including weak governance, corruption, limited capacity to deliver basic services, a deterioration of its health system, and a serious concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemic among key populations and in the Highland provinces. Collapse U.S.-Papua New Guinea Relations Read more about U.S.-Papua New Guinea Relations U.S. Assistance to Papua New Guinea U.S. bilateral and multilateral assistance funds public health programs in Papua New Guinea including the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), TB, and Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases and aims to advance the country’s public health system. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Pacific Islands Regional Office is located in Manila, Philippines and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control U.S. bilateral and multilateral assistance funds public health programs in Papua New Guinea including the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), TB, and Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases and aims to advance the country’s public health system. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Pacific Islands Regional Office is located in Manila, Philippines and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Country Office is located in Papua New Guinea. The U.S. builds the capacity and resilience of Papua New Guinea to adapt to climate change through regional assistance that covers 12 Pacific Island countries. U.S. assistance supports Papua New Guinea’s efforts to protect biodiversity; it contributes to the Coral Triangle Initiative to preserve coral reefs, fisheries, and food security in six countries including Papua New Guinea. The U.S. also supports efforts to improve the country’s disaster preparedness and response. In 2017, the U.S. provided funding for relief efforts in the Highlands which suffered from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. U.S. military forces, through Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii, provide training to the Papua New Guinea Defense Force and have held small-scale joint training and engineering exercises. The U.S. provides police and other education and training courses to national security officials. U.S. companies based in Papua New Guinea have also funded a range of health and development projects. Collapse U.S. Assistance to Papua New Guinea Read more about U.S. Assistance to Papua New Guinea Bilateral Economic Relations Petroleum and mining machinery and aircrafts have been the strongest U.S. exports to Papua New Guinea. The U.S. imports modest amounts of gold, copper ore, cocoa, coffee, and other agricultural products from Papua New Guinea. The ExxonMobil-led liquefied natural gas project, PNG LNG, has been a success for Papua New Guinea, hailed for its timely and close-to-budget construction and smooth Petroleum and mining machinery and aircrafts have been the strongest U.S. exports to Papua New Guinea. The U.S. imports modest amounts of gold, copper ore, cocoa, coffee, and other agricultural products from Papua New Guinea. The ExxonMobil-led liquefied natural gas project, PNG LNG, has been a success for Papua New Guinea, hailed for its timely and close-to-budget construction and smooth operation. Papua New Guinea is a party to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Multilateral Tuna Fisheries Treaty, which provides access for U.S. fishing vessels in exchange for a license fee from the U.S. industry. Under a separate Economic Assistance Agreement (EAA) associated with the Treaty, the U.S. Government currently provides $21 million per year to Pacific Island parties. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, in 2016 the U.S. exported $126.8 million worth of goods to Papua New Guinea and imported $91.8 million worth. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations Integrated Country Strategies The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Investment Climate Statements The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates. View Investment Climate Statements Fiscal Transparency Report The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability. View Fiscal Transparency Report Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries Since August, 2021 the United States has donated 302,400 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Papua New Guinea. This includes 302,400 Pfizer doses. Of the 302,400 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future. Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery. More Vaccine Deliveries Highlights March 5, 2024 Deputy Secretary Campbell’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Rosso December 15, 2023 The U.S. APEC 2023 Host Year Elevated Stakeholder Voices November 16, 2023 Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Marape November 3, 2023 Digital Press Briefing with Captain Claudine Caluori, U.S. Navy, Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2023 September 29, 2023 Digital Press Briefing with Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Papua New Guinea