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American Samoa

Overview

American Samoa is located approximately halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and comprises five islands and two atolls. It is the transport hub of the South Pacific, and is midway between Hawaii and New Zealand, with a land area slightly larger than Washington DC. The capital, Pago Pago, is located on the main island of Tutuila. Because American Samoa is an unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States, not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply. Moreover, the United States has not provided an organic (charter) act setting forth a system of government. Instead, the U.S. secretary of the interior, who has had jurisdiction over the territory since 1951, gave American Samoa the authority to draft its own constitution (1967). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not exercise jurisdiction in American Samoa. No one may enter American Samoa unless he or she complies with certain entry requirements of the American Samoa Government. The American Samoa GDP was 636 million USD (2018). It has a productive population of 55,519 with a labor force of 18,387, and unemployment at 9.2%. Exports at $418 million, almost exclusively from tuna cannery. Imports at $270 million. Primarily cannery raw materials, food, petroleum, machinery and parts.

The economy is based on services and manufacturing. The government is the main employer. A large part of the national income comes in the form of grants from the U.S. federal government. Tuna canning (by American-owned canneries) and tourism are major industries. Agriculture is organized on a semi commercial basis for the production of taro, bananas, tropical fruits, and vegetables. Traditional family gardens produce coconuts, breadfruit, and yams. Production nearly meets domestic needs, and the U.S. government has implemented programs to increase production to self-sufficiency levels. The United States and Singapore are the main sources of imports (which include fish destined for the canneries, consumer goods, food, and mineral fuels), although Fiji and New Zealand are also notable exporters of goods to American Samoa. The United States is the primary destination for exports, which consist mostly of canned tuna, along with a small amount of pet food.

The Corporate Tax Rate in Samoa stands at 27%. American Samoa has 84 grants for small businesses. The Biden administration would create a new general business credit equal to 10 percent of certain expenses incurred in connection with onshoring a foreign business to the U.S. or Puerto Rico (or American Samoa). Governor based on the Tax Exemption Board recommendation may grant exemptions for import duties on equipment, raw materials and exemptions for corporate and business taxes on some or all taxes (except for individual income tax) for up to 10 years for the establishment or expansion of a qualifying industrial or business enterprise.