# Samoa - United States Department of State

- Samoa HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Samoa				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Samoa																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Samoa during the yearSignificant human rights issues included credible reports of: serious restrictions on media freedom, including enforcement of or the threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression; extensive sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence; laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although not enforced; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports government officials normally employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were no reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Administration: Authorities investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring: The government permitted monitoring visits by independent human rights observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution and laws prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						Courts issued arrest warrants with strong evidence, and detainees were promptly informed of the charges or released within 24 hours. The law ensured the right to a timely judicial review of detention, which was respected by authorities. A bail system operated, and detainees had access to a chosen lawyer, while the government provided legal assistance to those in need.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The constitution provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.Village councils handled many civil and criminal matters, but the councils varied considerably in decision-making styles and the number of matai (chiefs) involved in decisions. The law recognized the decisions of village councils and provided for limited appeal to the Lands and Titles Court. The nature and severity of a dispute determined which court received an appeal.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The law prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the national government failed to respect these prohibitions. There was little privacy in villages, where there could be substantial societal pressure on residents to grant village officials access to their homes without a warrant.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The law provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.Freedom of Expression: The law authorized the Samoa Tourism Authority to file suit against any person who published what it judged to be false information that it deemed prejudicial to the country’s reputation as a tourism destination. Violators were subjected to a fine or maximum imprisonment of three months if they failed to retract the information or to publish a correction when ordered to do so by the authority. The authority did not exercise this power during the year.Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The law stipulated imprisonment for any journalist who, despite a court order and a court finding that disclosure was in the public interest, refused to reveal a confidential source.Libel/Slander Laws: Libel could be prosecuted as a criminal offense. Local media regarded the law as an obstacle to press freedom.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. A Supreme Court ruling stipulated that village councils could not infringe upon villagers’ freedom of assembly or association. Village councils, however, consistently ignored this ruling.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.In-country Movement: There were reports that some village councils banished individuals or families from villages. In April, media reported the Faleata No. 4 constituency announced strict measures, including banishment, to safeguard nearly half a million tala ($180,000) worth of equipment. In May, alleged drug dealers were banished from Toamua-Uta.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										There were no requests for asylum or refugee status, and the government had no interaction with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, whose regional representation was based in Canberra, or with other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees.Access to Asylum: The law did not provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government had no established system for providing protection to refugees.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections held in 2021 were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Political Parties and Political Participation: The constitution permitted only the more than 17,000 persons with a matai title, the chiefly leaders of extended families, to run for parliament or serve on village councils. Matai were appointed, not elected, to the councils. Although both men and women could become matai, most matai were men.In addition to the restrictions favoring matai, all candidates had to satisfy a three-year period of monotaga (services rendered through participation and physical contributions) in their respective villages to be eligible to run. The government stated the law was to prove that candidates fulfilled cultural and other commitments to their village or church and could not simply use their matai status or make large, last-minute contributions to their villages to garner votes. The monotaga requirement at times led to disqualification of multiple candidates deemed to not meet the requirement. Such cases exposed deficiencies in the system, such as that monotaga was poorly defined and could mean different types of service (or exemption from service for certain matai) in different villages. Some saw such subjective disqualifications as human rights abuses.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were isolated reports of government corruption.Corruption: There was public discontent throughout the year at significant changes within the government. For example, there were instances of seasoned senior public servants being forced to resign or their applications to reapply not being considered, leading to dissatisfaction among the public.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country, and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials were cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies: Observers considered the Office of the Ombudsman generally effective and able to operate free from government or political party interference. The government usually adopted its recommendations. The Office of the Ombudsman also housed the National Human Rights Institute.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The constitution prohibited the abuse of women. Rape of women and men was a crime. The criminalization of “unlawful sexual connection” with another person without that person’s consent applied to spouses and was punishable by 14 years in prison. The government enforced the law effectively. The courts treated rape seriously, and the conviction rate was high. The penalty for rape was up to life imprisonment, although no court had ever imposed a life sentence for rape.When police received complaints from abused women, authorities generally investigated and charged the offender. Authorities charged domestic violence as common criminal assault, with a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Village councils typically punished domestic violence offenders only if they considered the abuse extreme, such as when there were visible signs of physical harm. In the past few years, several villages began taking the extra step of incorporating specific fines into their village by-laws.The government acknowledged that rape and domestic abuse were of significant concern. The report National Public Inquiry into Family Violence, released by the government in 2018, revealed that 86 percent of women experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner, and that 24 percent had experienced choking. Many cases of rape and domestic abuse went unreported because societal attitudes discouraged such reporting and tolerated domestic abuse. Social pressure and fear of reprisal typically caused such abuse to go unreported.The Ministry of Police’s Domestic Violence Unit worked with nongovernmental organizations and focused on combating domestic abuse. The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration and the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, in collaboration with nongovernmental organizations, carried out educational activities to address domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human rights awareness.In November, media reported 2,916 uninvestigated cases of domestic and family violence in 2022. As a result, police launched the Domestic and Family Violence Strategy, including a “No Drop Policy,” to better address the issue.UN data released in November 2022 showed that 46 percent of women in relationships had suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from an intimate partner. Reports also stated that 97 percent of domestic violence survivors did not report it to the police.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: No law specifically punished sexual harassment, although the law permitted an employee who experienced harassment to break an employment contract. There were no reliable statistics on the incidence of sexual harassment. The lack of legislation and a cultural constraint against publicly shaming or accusing someone reportedly caused sexual harassment to be underreported. Survivors had little incentive to report sexual harassment, as doing so could jeopardize their career or family’s reputation.Discrimination: Women and men had equal rights under the constitution and statutory law, but patriarchal norms consigned many women to subordinate roles. Women faced discrimination including in interactions with police and in some judicial processes. The government generally enforced the law effectively.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.According to a 2019-20 study released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF, and a 2020 report from the World Bank, while 86 percent of women ages 15-49 had knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, 39 percent of married women in that age cohort had an unmet need for contraception. The government worked with the nongovernmental organization Samoa Victim Support Group to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence. Emergency contraception was available to survivors of sexual violence and to the general population.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution stated that all persons were equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law, and barred discrimination on grounds of descent, language, social origin, or place of birth. There were no reports of racial or ethnic violence during the year. Some villages, however, banned ownership by Chinese nationals of shops on village-owned land (more than 80 percent of the land in the country).																																				Children										Birth Registration: By law children without a birth certificate could not attend primary schools, but authorities did not strictly enforce this law.Child Abuse: Law and tradition prohibited abuse of children, but both tolerated corporal punishment. The law prohibited corporal punishment in schools; a teacher convicted of corporal punishment of a student could face a maximum one-year prison term. In April, press reported that when authorities separated a wife and her children from an abusive husband, they also uncovered multiple instances of sexual abuse.In October, police urged the public to report instances of parents being visibly intoxicated in public spaces while accompanied by underage children. In a statement to media, the police commissioner stressed that individuals engaged in this behavior would face legal consequences, as it was deemed a form of child abuse.The government aggressively prosecuted reported cases of child abuse.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage was 18 for both men and women. Consent of at least one parent or guardian was necessary if either party was younger than 21. Early marriage did not generally occur.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age for consensual sex was 16. Under the law the maximum penalty for sexual relations with children younger than age 12 was life imprisonment, and for children between ages 12 and 15, 10 years’ imprisonment. The law criminalized child pornography, and authorities generally enforced the law. The law specified a maximum seven-year prison sentence for a person found guilty of publishing, distributing, or exhibiting indecent material featuring a child. Because 16 was the age of majority, the law did not protect persons ages 16 and 17.Although comprehensive data on the child sexual abuse was not available, it remained a widespread problem, and the number of incidents reported by local media during the year remained high.																																				Antisemitism										The country had a small Jewish community; there were no known reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in the country or that traffickers exploited victims from abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: “Sodomy” was illegal, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The law also prohibited renting, leasing, occupying, or managing any premises used for the commission of “indecent acts” between males, with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. Authorities did not enforce these provisions with respect to consensual sexual conduct between same-sex adults.Violence and Harassment: There were no reported acts of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.Discrimination: Although there were no reports of societal violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity, there were isolated cases of discrimination. The law did not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, nor did it recognize LGBTQI+ individuals, couples, and their families. There were no hate crime or anti-gay-propaganda laws, nor were there criminal justice mechanisms to aid in the prosecution of bias-motivated crimes against members of the LGBTQI+ community. Although society accepted the traditional Polynesian fa’afafine (transgender, nonbinary) community, which played a prominent role in the country, members of the community reported instances of social discrimination.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There was no mechanism for legal gender recognition or changing one’s sex at birth on official documents.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: Health-care professionals did not report treating sexual orientation. Other practices such as conversion therapy and intersex normalization surgeries were not explicitly prohibited.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions on those speaking out regarding LGBTQI+ matters, such as so-called anti-gay-propaganda laws or “hate speech” laws, nor were there restrictions on the ability of LGBTQI+ organizations to legally register or convene events such as Pride festivities.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities were generally unable to access education, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis with others. Government information and communication on disability concerns was not provided in accessible formats.In December, the minister of women, community, and social development announced progress in advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities. Notable developments included the establishment of the National Disability Policy, integration of disability-friendly requirements in the National Building Code, promotion of inclusive education, enhancement of health services for disability needs, and the implementation of the Disability Benefit Scheme. This system, funded by the government, provided a monthly allowance of 100 tala ($35.70) to each person with disabilities.While no law prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of public services, the law prohibited disability-based discrimination in employment.Most public buildings were accessible to persons with disabilities.Some children with disabilities attended regular public schools, while others attended one of at least three schools in the capital created specifically to educate students with disabilities.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law protected the rights of workers to form and join independent unions and collectively bargain. It provided for the right of private-sector workers to conduct legal strikes. The law stipulated that public-sector employees engaging in a strike or any other industrial action were considered “dismissed from [their] employment.” It prohibited antiunion discrimination, such as contract conditions restricting freedom of association. The law addressed a range of fundamental rights and included the establishment of a national tripartite forum that served as the governing body for labor and employment matters in the country.The government effectively enforced laws on unionization, and freedom of association was generally respected. Penalties were commensurate with those under other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. Penalties were regularly applied against violators. The Public Service Association functioned as a union for all government workers, and unions generally conducted their activities free from government interference.Workers exercised the right to organize and bargain collectively. The Public Service Association engaged in collective bargaining on behalf of government workers, including on wages. Arbitration and mediation procedures were in place to resolve labor disputes, although such disputes rarely arose.There were no reported strikes.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at:  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The law provided for separate minimum wage scales for the private and public sectors. Both minimum wages were below the official estimate of the poverty income level for a household.The law established a 40-hour work week but covered private-sector and public-sector workers differently. For the private sector, the law specified overtime pay at time and a half, with double time for work on Sundays and public holidays. For some parts of the public sector, there was no paid overtime, but authorities gave compensatory time off for overtime work.Occupational Safety and Health: The law established certain rudimentary occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for workplaces that the Labor Ministry was responsible for enforcing. The law also covered nonworkers lawfully on the premises or within the workplace during work hours. The law contained provisions for the identification and assessment of, and risk control for, workplace hazards and hazardous substances. The commissioner of labor investigated reported cases of hazardous workplaces. OSH experts actively identified unsafe conditions in addition to responding to workers’ OSH complaints. Workers were legally able to remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment.OSH laws did not generally apply to agricultural service rendered to matai or work in a family enterprise. Government employees had coverage under different and more stringent regulations, which the Public Service Commission enforced adequately.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The Labor Ministry was responsible for enforcement of wage and hour laws. The government generally enforced wage laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. The number of inspectors was not sufficient to fully enforce compliance.The Labor Ministry enforced OSH laws. It investigated work accidents when it received reports. The most prominent OSH violations were reported in the health sector. The number of inspectors was generally sufficient to deter violations. Inspectors were able to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. Penalties for violations of OSH laws were commensurate with those for crimes such as negligence. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators.Many agricultural workers had inadequate protection from pesticides and other dangers to health. Government education and awareness programs sought to address these concerns by providing appropriate training and equipment to some agricultural workers.The Labor Ministry investigated any potential labor law violations in response to complaints. The police and education ministries could assist if needed; the Public Service Commission handled all government labor matters.Approximately 75 percent of the working population worked in the subsistence economy and had no formal employment. The informal economy included small-scale trading, market vending, fishing, and agriculture. Informal workers were legally covered by labor laws and were eligible for social support, including the country’s pension system.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								Samoa
- Digital Press Briefing with Captain Claudine Caluori, U.S. Navy, Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2023 Captain Claudine Caluori, U.S. Navy, Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2023MODERATOR:  Greetings from the U.S. Department of State’s Asia Pacific Media Hub.  I would like to welcome journalists to today’s on-the-record briefing with Captain Claudine Caluori, U.S. Navy, Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2023.  Captain Caluori will discuss this year’s Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.  This year’s mission included stops in Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Fiji, Samoa, Palau, and Papua New Guinea, and will continue through the end of the year with a stop in Tonga.She will be joined today by Director of Medical Operations for Pacific Partnership 2023, U.S. Navy Captain Robert Carpenter and the Mission Engineer, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Colby Gilbert.With that, let’s get started.  Captain Caluori, I’ll turn it over to you for your opening remarks.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Thank you, and good afternoon.  I am U.S. Navy Captain Claudine Caluori.  I’m the Mission Commander for Pacific Partnership 2023.  When I’m not on mission, I am also the Commander of Destroyer Squadron 31, which is based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.First, let me start off by thanking you for being with us today and hearing about the great accomplishments that the 2023 Pacific Partnership mission is currently carrying out in the Pacific.  In my almost 25 years of service in the United States Navy, this has truly been one of the most astonishing missions of my career.So Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific.  Each year our mission team works with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities.  We increase security and stability and we foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.  The relationship between the countries we have visited and our partners are deep and enduring.So on behalf of the U.S. Navy and the Pacific Partnership crew, we are honored to have visited so many wonderful countries, and we’re excited about our last mission stop on this incredible journey.  The Pacific Partnership 2023 team embarked on the Harpers Fairy-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor LSD 52 and was joined by the Independence-Class littoral combat ship USS Jackson, or LCS-6.As stated earlier, our mission began in August in Vietnam, and we’ve successfully completed stops in the Philippines, Malaysia, Samoa, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and we’re about to complete our stop here in Fiji.  And this is actually our second stop here in Fiji on this current mission.  A small crew of U.S. sailors had the opportunity to board the Japanese tank landing ship, the Japanese ship Shimokita, and they visited the Tailevu province just this past August, where they executed a mangrove revitalization project with other U.S. Navy and Army, the Royal New Zealand Navy and Air Force, the Japanese Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Forces, the Republic of Fiji Maritime Military Forces, and students of the Ballantine Memorial Secondary School.So as I mentioned earlier, the USS Jackson serves as a secondary platform for our mission, and they made their first stop in Fiji, where our team and the ship’s personnel visited the Lautoka School for Special Education, and they held a rugby match.  Unfortunately, they lost that match, but hey, they tried.  But it was at the Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswami Memorial College.  They also gave tours aboard the ship, and they were very grateful to have given this opportunity to visit Fiji not once but twice.And so this mission has allowed us to promote interoperability and multinational cooperation with allies and partners by highlighting multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief through medical and engineering projects, and it’s also in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.We continue our mission throughout the South Pacific until the end of the year.  We are now in its 18th year.  So Pacific Partnership 2023 consists of nearly 1,500 U.S. and partner nation personnel who will carry out this mission.  And it’s a joint effort on behalf of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and the United States.And just for some background, Pacific Partnership was born out of the devastation wrought by the December 2004 tsunami that swept through parts of South and Southeast Asia, and began as a humanitarian response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters.So at the invitation of hosts and nations, our mission partners visit and conduct tailored humanitarian civic action preparedness activities in the areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health, and other outreach events.  And additional criteria are also considered, such as host nations’ objectives and desires.  The enduring goal of Pacific Partnership is promoting interoperability and multinational cooperation through multiple lines of effort to help be regional – help build, sorry, regional resilience and the capacity to respond to disasters.Our projects, as I said earlier, have been tailored at the request of host nations.  So while on our mission stops, we conduct these projects throughout cities and provinces that were selected.  And we have and we will continue to conduct subject matter expert exchanges in public health and preventative medicine, also in adult and pediatric medicine, basic life support, first aid lectures, dental care, and veterinary services.  These medical subject matter expert exchanges are designed to share expertise across participating nation providers to combine provider practices and bring cultural awareness.So Pacific Partnership transitioned from its primary focus of providing direct care to focus on collective capacity building.  So any direct care provided will be shoulder to shoulder with host nation and partner nations.  And the intent is that we share the knowledge and skills that are enduring and applicable well after the mission is completed.So military and civilian leaders agree about the necessity of collaboration to respond to disasters and emergencies quickly and effectively.  As we all know, storms and catastrophic events don’t know a country’s boundaries.  And this mission allows us to show response capabilities and show that we can prepare in calm to be able to respond to a crisis.As you are all very much aware, I’m sure, Indo-Pacific is within what the scientists call the Pacific Ring of Fire, and it’s not about if, but when we will need to work collectively to respond to natural disasters.  So the United States and our partners, we stand ready to assist when called upon.  Some recent relief efforts include the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga; the 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu relief efforts in the Northern Mariana Islands; and the 2011 relief efforts during Operation Tomodachi in Japan, which followed the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  So just to name few.So again, thanks for joining us and I’m happy to take your questions.MODERATOR:  Thank you, Captain Caluori.  We will now turn to the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.Our first question goes to Huizhong Wu of AP based in Bangkok, Thailand, who submitted their question in advance.  “I’d like to hear about U.S. military partnerships in the Federated States of Micronesia.”CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Thank you for your question.  So just recently, sailors and Marines assigned to Task Force Koa Moana 23 demonstrated their skills while bolstering U.S. alliances in the Pacific region.  So that task force, they worked on a series of construction projects in several Indo-Pacific nations over the summer.  The latest was the renovation of a – I can’t – of a municipal center on the island of Yap, Micronesia.  So just like Pacific Partnership, their mission helps to improve the health and safety of the communities, which in turn enhance U.S. relationships with its partners.Additionally, Pacific Partnership has visited the Federated States of Micronesia several times over the last years, to include 20 – 2008, ’11, ’15, most recently in 2019 with the USNS Brunswick, and they will also be visited in 2024, in January, with the USNS Mercy as a part of their mission coming up.MODERATOR:  Our next question goes to Bethany Allen of Axios based in Taipei, Taiwan.  And Bethany, I see that you also inputted your question in the Q&amp;A.  If you would like to unmute and pose your question, please do so now.QUESTION:  Can you hear me?MODERATOR:  Yes, please go ahead.QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes, thank you.  I noticed that the Solomon Islands is not on the list of participating countries this year.  I know it has participated for several years in the past, including last year when it was supposed to participate and then in the ended up denying access to a U.S. Navy vessel but still allowed access to a U.S. hospital ship during the Pacific Partnership.  Why are they not on the list this year?  And is that related to their growing security partnership with China?  Thank you.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Hi, Bethany.  Thank you for your question.  So to answer that, Pacific Partnership 24-1 is with the hospital ship USNS Mercy.  They will actually be going to the Solomon Islands.  Actually, they’re going to be arriving in the Solomon Islands – I think it’s on or around 18 November – and they’ll depart on 3 December.As far as the second part of your question, I can’t comment on any claims or hypothetical accusations on a previous mission.  However, last year from May through September, the USNS Mercy did stop in Palau and Philippines and Vietnam in addition to several events that included Federated States and Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, and Papua New Guinea.MODERATOR:  The next question goes to Vincent Choi from the South China Morning Post based in Hong Kong.  Vincent, if you could please unmute and please pose your question.QUESTION:  Hi, can you hear me?MODERATOR:  YesCAPTAIN CALUORI:  Yes, we can.  Thank you.QUESTION:  Yes.  Yeah, so there has been frequent clashes between Chinese and Philippine coast guard near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.  So how does the U.S. Navy observe the situation here and what are the plans you have regarding the cooperation with the Philippine navy in the in the region?  Thank you.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Okay, can you say the second half of your question?  I think I caught the first half, but I didn’t quite grab the second one.QUESTION:  Oh yeah, okay.  So what are your – what are the plans you have regarding the cooperation with the Philippine navy in the South China Sea?CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Okay, great.  Thank you, Vincent.  I appreciate your question.  As far as – I’ll address the second one first, where we just talked about the cooperation.  And I just want to reiterate that our government has reaffirmed that a strong U.S.-Philippine alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and that we’ll continue to partner closely with the Philippines.  And I know you’re aware that for more than 70 years the U.S. Navy has maintained a persistent maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific, and the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is committed to continuing its forward presence, which is focused on stability and regional cooperation and economic prosperity for all nations.And then as far as the first part of your question, it’s like we’ll continue – the U.S. will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows.  And the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Joint Force, we remain dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and we expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific to operate in international waters safely and in accordance with international law.MODERATOR:  Our next question goes to Gordon Arthur from Naval News based in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Gordon, if you could please unmute and please ask your question now.QUESTION:  Hi there, Captain.  Thanks very much for this opportunity to listen and to ask you questions.  My question is to do with China, and I know the last few months in particular Chinese – China has been performing naval diplomacy in the South Pacific.  There have been hospital ships, training ships.  So just wondering, do you see the U.S. as complementing or competing with China for influence in the South Pacific?  And also during Pacific Partnership, have you had any encounters or contact with the PLA Navy?  Thank you.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Thank you, Gordon, for your question.  So the U.S. Navy and our allies and partners, we value our growing cooperation with host nations and we look forward to enhancing the lines of communication and understanding that promotes greater cooperation and partnerships that benefit all nations.  And all Pacific Partnership 2023 operations are driven by host nation requests and approval.  As I stated earlier, the host nations invite the U.S. Navy and its mission partners to visit and conduct tailored humanitarian civic action preparedness activities in areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health and outreach events.  And all – again, all additional criteria are taken into consideration, such as the host nation objections and desires.  But I am not aware of any contacts at this time.MODERATOR:  Okay, we’re going to go to a question that was submitted in advance from Angie Chen of the Central News Agency based in Manila, Philippines.  “We are seeing higher tensions in the South China Sea, but some are worried that the U.S. is distracted by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.  Will this concern be addressed in the Pacific Partnership this year?”CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Okay, thanks for the question.  Pacific Partnership is conducted yearly, so it’s not in response to any nation or current events.  Pacific Partnership does have an enduring history as a multinational mission designed to bring several nations together to build relationships, enhance interoperability, and elevate preparedness for responding to disaster emergencies in the region.So the focus is disaster relief preparation.  And as I stated earlier, for more than 70 years the U.S. Navy has maintained a persistent maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific, and we remain committed to continuing this forward presence, which is focused on stability, regional cooperation, and economic prosperity for all nations.  And as always, a free Indo-Pacific is vital to the interests of the United States and its allies and partners.MODERATOR:  Okay, our next question will go to Dat Duong Quoc from Trí newspaper in Vietnam.  If you could please unmute and ask your question now.QUESTION:  Hello.  Thank you for doing this.  So am I premature to ask about whether Vietnam will be included in the next year Pacific Partnership?  And has Vietnamese authorities made any invitation to you for the next year?  Thank you.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Hi.  Thank you for your question.  I am not aware if Vietnam is included in next year’s Pacific Partnership.  We have been going to Vietnam over the last several years, and the last time we were in Vietnam was – we were just in Phú Yên province, where we conducted over 119 events over 10 days.  And we’re looking forward to future collaboration with Vietnam.  And again, our relationship with Vietnam continues to grow stronger across an increasingly broad range of subjects, and Pacific Partnership is a way that we continue to develop these relationships.  Thank you.MODERATOR:  The next question will go to the Q&amp;A queue.  We have a correspondent from the Joongangilbo in South Korea.  If you would like to unmute and ask your question now, please do so.Okay, I will ask the question.  So this is from Joongangilbo from South Korea.  “We already have two wars in the Middle East and Europe, and there are many reports about military conflicts between the U.S. and China in Asia, especially around Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.  Do you think – do you think there is some possibility to occur another war in this area?  Thank you.”CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Thank you again for your question.  So our allies and partners are one of our greatest strengths and key strategic advantage.  We’re advancing a shared vision alongside our allies and partners of a free and open and secure Indo-Pacific, and we continue to deepen our connections with regional allies and partners, and we will continue to support our allies and partners as they strengthen those relationships with each other.  And we are committed – we remain committed to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific region where all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, can pursue economic opportunity, and resolve disputes without coercion, and of course have the freedom to navigate and fly consistent with international laws and norms.MODERATOR:  The next question will go to Chino Gaston from the GMA Network Incorporated in Manila, Philippines, who submitted his question in advance.  “China has shown it will carry out law enforcement action against the Philippines to the extent of causing collisions with Philippine boats.  The Philippines is looking for help.  Will the U.S. help or will it continue to merely monitor the situation on the basis that gray zone operations do not bring about obligations under the MDT?”CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Okay, thank you for your question.  And so while I cannot comment directly on the U.S. response, again, I will say that the U.S. will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows.  These actions are destabilizing and they threaten the region’s security and prosperity.  And this is why our primary focus is on strengthening deterrence in collaboration with our growing network of allies and partners.  And we remain focused on building and strengthening international relationships both in preparation for and in response to disaster emergencies.MODERATOR:  We have just a few more minutes left for questions, so this next one will go to Joseph Thaddeus Morong.  Please unmute and ask your question.QUESTION:  Hi, good afternoon.  Can you hear me?MODERATOR:  Yes.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Yes.QUESTION:  Hello?  Yeah, alright.  Cool.  Would the U.S. Navy be interested in joining the rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine coast guard?Hello?CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Hi, Joseph.  Sorry.QUESTION:  Yeah.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  I had the mute on.  (Laughter.)QUESTION:  That’s all right.  That’s all right.  Should I repeat my question?CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Yes, please do.QUESTION:  Okay.  So right now, the ones that are involved in the resupply missions in the Second Thomas Shoal are the Philippine coast guard primarily, but there have been ISR help from the U.S. State Department.  My question is:  Would the U.S. Navy be interested in a more proactive role in the sense that it will join the resupply missions in the Second Thomas Shoal just to send a message that the Philippines maybe is not alone in maintaining the (inaudible) there?CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Okay, Joe.  Thank you so much for your question.  And I just want to say that our government has reaffirmed that we have a strong U.S.-Philippine alliance, which is vital to the free and open Indo-Pacific region, and that we’ll continue to partner closely with the Philippines.  And I do want to say that our relations are based on strong historical and cultural linkages, and a shared commitment to democracy and human rights.  These strong people-to-people ties and economic cooperation provide additional avenues to engage on bilateral and regional and global issues.  And it’s like our alliance continues to contribute to the security of our two nations while also strengthening the rules-based order that benefits all nations within the Indo-Pacific.  Thank you again for your question.MODERATOR:  And our last question will go to David Santos from CNN Philippines.  Please unmute and ask your question.QUESTION:  Hi, thank you for doing this.  I think we spoke to you, ma’am, in La Unión a few months back when Pacific Partnership was here.  I would like to ask, we are – the Philippines is marking the 10th year since Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the eastern Philippines, and we know that Pacific Partnership or the U.S. Government in general was part in that multinational response during that particular catastrophe.  I know that our security and defense alliance is largely focused on joint trainings, sharing of intelligence information, enhancing our defense capabilities.  But can you talk to us how HADR – humanitarian assistance and disaster response – has played a key role in enhancing that defense alliance?  Thank you very much.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Hi, David.  Thank you.  And yes, I do remember our conversations when we were in San Fernando.  And thank you for your question.  I will say that having – having our continued cooperation through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief is one of the ways that we can continue to promote greater cooperation and our partnership.  It’s one of those things where it’s almost a base level to continue and moving forward.  Because it’s something that we’re – no matter what we’re going to have to respond to it.  It’s like when we go out, we have this mission to where the hope is that we can become recovery and relief experts in order to better assist each other as we prepare for the next catastrophic events.  And the goal is that we continue to work together and respond in a crisis.MODERATOR:  That brings us to the end of our time for today.  If you have any closing remarks, Captain Caluori, I’ll turn it back over to you.CAPTAIN CALUORI:  Yes, thank you so much.  I just want to kind of highlight a few of the things that we’ve done.  Well, multilateral missions like Pacific Partnerships are based on the common goal of enhancing regional stability with allies and partners, and it’s a unifying mission that fosters enduring friendships and cooperation among many nations.  And I just want to give a few statistics.I mean, so far over the last 3 months, we have conducted over 489 events, 316 of which were medical.  We’ve done 99 outreach events.  We’ve done 34 HADR symposiums and tabletop exercises.  And our engineers have conducted over 38 renovation and new construction projects so far.And I just want to say that having this Pacific Partnership continues to build trust among nations to work effectively together, and it’s crucial to maintaining peace and stability in the region.  Thank you again for everyone.MODERATOR:  Thank you to the participants for your questions today, and thank you to Captain Caluori for joining us, and thanks to your team as well from the Pacific Partnership 2023.  We will provide a transcript of this briefing to participating journalists as soon as it is available.  We’d also love to hear your feedback and you can contact us at any time at AsiaPacMedia@state.gov.  Thank you again for your participation and we hope you can join us for another briefing soon.
- 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 Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant SecretaryBureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsDr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and OceaniaMODERATOR:  Greetings from the U.S. Department of State’s Asia Pacific Media Hub.  I would like to welcome journalists today to the on-the-record 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 National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania.  The speakers will provide a readout on the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.With that, let’s get started.  Dr. Rapp-Hooper, I’ll turn it over to you for your opening remarks.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks so much, and thanks to you all for being here this evening, this morning.  We’re glad to have the opportunity to read you out the President’s really consequential summit of Pacific Islands Forum leaders here in Washington just a few days ago, and thrilled to be joining my friend and colleague Dan Kritenbrink to do so.As you know, this week, leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum were all in Washington for the second-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Leaders Summit.  By all accounts, this was an extremely successful and productive visit for the PIF leaders and for the President.  I’ll start with a brief recap of the leaders’ engagements over the past few days, and then I’ll discuss in brief some of the key deliverables that were announced over the course of the summit before handing the floor over to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink.In advance of the formal meetings that took place in Washington, we got our summit started early on Sunday when Pacific Island Forum leaders took a trip from New York on a special Amtrak train down to Baltimore.  In Baltimore, the leaders attended a Baltimore Ravens game, where they were recognized for their role as American friends in the Indo-Pacific.  They even made it onto the field, where they were recognized before the game began.After the game, they toured a Coast Guard cutter ship in the Baltimore Harbor, the USS Forward, and had a meeting and opportunity to exchange views with Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan on key issues to Pacific Island leaders, including combating illegal fishing and effectively managing maritime domains.Following the Pacific Island Forum leaders’ trip to Baltimore, the leaders came to Washington, where they were hosted by President Biden at the White House on Monday for the second-ever U.S.-Pacific Summit.  They also attended a climate roundtable hosted by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry as well as a dinner hosted by Secretary Blinken and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield about which Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will say more in just a moment.On Tuesday, the leaders also met with members of the philanthropic community, U.S. businesses, and members of Congress.  We closed out the summit with a reception hosted by our friends at the Australian embassy, emphasizing the depths of our people-to-people ties.  And I look forward to Dan speaking to those engagements in a bit more detail very soon.At the summit with PIF leaders on Monday, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to shared regional priorities and to deepening our cooperation, including to tackling the climate crisis, advancing economic growth, promoting sustainable development, countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and expanding our people-to-people ties.Before getting into the deliverables that we unveiled on Monday, I’d first like to take a step back and recognize the milestones of engagement with PIF countries that we have passed over the course of the last couple of years.Just in the last year, we have opened new embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga in record time, thanks in no small part to the extraordinary work of our colleagues at the State Department.  We opened a USAID regional mission in Fiji and are returning the Peace Corps to the region after years of relative absence.  We are enhancing our engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum as the region’s leading institution, and we continue to expand U.S. cooperation and assistance programs throughout the region.At this year’s summit, we announced expanded ties with our recognition, our diplomatic recognition, of the Cook Islands and Niue, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with both of these Pacific Island nations.Since last year’s summit, this May, Secretary Blinken met with the Pacific Island Forum leaders in Papua New Guinea, and at this week’s summit, the Biden-Harris administration has continued to show that we are delivering on our promises.  All told, we have now announced a commitment to work with Congress towards over $8 billion in new funding and programs for the Pacific Island region.  And again, this is just in the last year.On Monday, President Biden announced a new slate of activities, including plans to work with Congress to request and provide nearly $200 million in new funding.  These programs seek to address the priority issues we hear about from Pacific Island leaders, including the climate crisis – which is existential for many of our Pacific Island friends – and we always stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they work to meet the challenge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.The President on Monday also reaffirmed his commitment to the security of the Blue Pacific Continent, and to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the United States has announced that it will provide over $11 million to bring cutting-edge maritime domain awareness technology to the Pacific through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness to help improve the maritime picture and law enforcement information analysis and provision amongst our Pacific Island friends.We’re also delivering on our promise to invest in the prosperity of the region.  As the President has announced, we will invest an additional $40 million working with Congress to expand our Pacific Islands Infrastructure Initiative.  Through this initiative, we’re bringing technical assistance and project preparation work needed to identify commercially viable projects through partners in the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.These are just a few of the key initiatives announced as part of our summit.  One more that I’d flag that we’re happy to go into during our question-and-answer period involves a new microfinance facility that will offer small and micro loans to Pacific Island businesses so that entrepreneurs there have the chance to thrive.  And these deliverables we are working towards illustrate the depths of our collaboration with the Pacific Islands and the promise of expanding our partnership for many years to come.As President Biden has said, the United States is and will long remain a proud Pacific nation.  And as a Pacific nation, the United States is here for the long haul and will continue to deliver on our promises to our partners in the region.I’ll hand the floor over to Dan to talk more about Secretary Blinken’s consequential engagements with the PIF leaders throughout the summit.  Dan, over to you.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, thanks so much, and good evening, everyone.  I think, as my esteemed colleague Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper has outlined, this was a tremendously successful summit that I think demonstrates further the breadth and depth of America’s commitment to the Pacific.  And Mira, I thought that was really a tremendous rundown of a momentous series of events related to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.I thought that I would focus my remarks a bit more narrowly on some of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s significant engagements with the Pacific Island leaders here in Washington, and then also mention briefly the engagement involving the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry’s meetings during the summit as well.As Secretary Blinken put it, our engagements were designed to show that we’re seizing on the possibilities of this moment to build a more secure, resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Pacific region.As Secretary Blinken also said on Monday night, the fundamental fact is this:  Our fates are tied together.  We’ve long been committed development partners to the Pacific Islands, and we’re excited to bring new energy and resources to the Pacific, working with partners in the Pacific Islands on our shared goal of meeting Pacific priorities and supporting Pacific institutions.We saw this last week, last Friday at the UN – at the end of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, when Secretary Blinken hosted a Partners in the Blue Pacific ministerial in New York.  And at that meeting on Friday, we aimed to highlight the tremendous work we’ve done to advance more effective and efficient cooperation and engagement with our Pacific partners, designed to strengthen Pacific regionalism and to facilitate and encourage other partners and institutions to engage and consult with the Pacific.  And of course those efforts flowed nicely into the Pacific Islands Forum Summit itself, which began, as Mira indicated, on Monday.I think a clear sign of our commitment to the Pacific region came through the establishment of diplomatic relations with both Niue and the Cook Islands.  Following an announcement from President Biden earlier on Monday, Secretary Blinken hosted Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for two separate signing ceremonies here in the State Department Treaty Room to make these momentous occasions.  These historic announcements reaffirmed our joint commitments to deepen our cooperation as equal and sovereign partners, guided by respect, genuine engagement, and partnership.  We fully anticipate working even closer with Niue and the Cook Islands on our shared priorities, which include the climate crisis, renewable energy, Pacific regionalism, and good governance, among many others.Secretary Blinken then had the pleasure of joining the millennium compact corporation CEO Alice Albright and iKiribati President Taneti Maamau for a signing ceremony for an MCC-Kiribati threshold program grant agreement that will provide up to $29.1 million to promote safe, accessible, decent, and inclusive employment opportunities for Kiribati workers, both in Kiribati and across the region.  This will be the United States’ largest direct grant investment in Kiribati to date, and it is an agreement that we believe will deliver clear results and benefits to people in the Pacific Islands and solve real challenges to shape our future.I wanted to mention, also on Monday evening, Secretary Blinken hosted really a spectacular dinner here at the State Department in the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Room, which was an opportunity for the Secretary and other leaders across the U.S. Government to meet with all of the Pacific Island leaders and to discuss in more detail ways that we can expand our cooperation in the future.  The Secretary was delighted to host the banquet with his co-host, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield – of course, America’s Permanent Representative to the UN – and at the dinner, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that she will be America’s representative to the next Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit in November of this year.I think the final event of the summit, the two-day summit, for Secretary Blinken was his meeting with representatives from the Freely Associated States.  Namely, he met with Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ading, he met with Federated States of Micronesia President Simina, and with Palau President Whipps.  That was on Tuesday, late Tuesday afternoon.During the meeting, the Secretary took the opportunity to underscore the strong people-to-people ties and shared history underpinned by the Compacts of Free Association between the U.S. and these three Freely Associated States.  The Secretary commended the dignitaries for the progress in the negotiations on the compact-related agreements, which we believe signals a new era in our partnerships that will help advance a secure, free, and open Pacific.  And we look forward to further progress on these Compacts of Free Association agreements in the months to come.Finally, of course, climate change, as Mira indicated, was a major topic of discussions since it is such an existential challenge, and we recognize it, as our partners do, as the single greatest threat facing the Blue Pacific.Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry met with Pacific leaders on Monday to discuss the climate crisis and ocean resilience.  Secretary Kerry reiterated the United States’ new policy on sea-level rise and statehood that President Biden had earlier announced as well as new investments in strengthening early warning systems and sustainable development.So in the interest of time, why don’t I stop there.  I know that Mira and I will be delighted to take your questions.  Thanks.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink.  We’ll now turn it over to the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  The first question will go to Ralph Jennings from the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, who sent his question in advance:  “How does the recent U.S. engagement with the South Pacific help offset China’s economic influence in the region?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, do you want to take that one first or you want me to dive in?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  I’m happy to take that one, Dan.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Please.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  And I’ll turn to you in just a moment to add your thoughts.  Thanks for the question.  I would say just as a topline matter, when we’re working with our Pacific Island friends, we’re really not focused principally on China.  We’re focused on what the United States can offer as a likeminded partner to this group of countries.  And we are very focused on delivering positive, attractive alternatives to these countries that can help them and their people thrive.  But it’s really about what we stand for together alongside our Pacific Island partners, not about who or what we’re against.But with that in mind, I will note that, as the President announced, our $200 million in new programs for Pacific Island Forum nations do include some really consequential new programs that we believe are going to help our friends in the Pacific to generate the economic dynamism that they’re looking for to offset and combat climate change and to continue their recovery from the pandemic, where they were especially hard-hit.Just as a few examples, we’re stepping up our infrastructure efforts.  Specifically, as I mentioned, the President announced $40 million to new infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands.  He also announced that the United States will be undertaking new submarine cable projects in the Pacific Islands to build secure, reliable connectivity amongst Pacific Island nations and to ensure that our friends there have the basic digital infrastructure that they need, like reliable, speedy internet on which so many businesses and individuals rely.  And of course, that submarine cable work builds on work we have been doing in recent years, including with the East Micronesia Cable, where we’ve already begun work to improve high-quality and more reliable secure communications for over 100,000 people in the Pacific Islands.  So infrastructure is a big part of our work.We are also delivering a new Millennium Challenge Corporation project with the Government of Kiribati, which is intended to advance economic growth in Kiribati in partnership with the International Labor Organization and American Councils of International Education to bolster and promote safe, accessible, and inclusive employment opportunities for Kiribati workers.Through the Quad, we are partnering with the Government of Palau to implement the deployment of a new ORAN network that is a next-generation, secure mobile network to help Palau get the secure connectivity that it needs.  And as we mentioned at the top of the call, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is working throughout the Pacific Islands to identify through its technical work opportunities for more viable projects in the months and years to come.So this is just a sampling of the work that we’re doing to try to bring the economic tools we have to bear to help Pacific economies thrive, but I’ll hand it back to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink to see what he might like to add.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, that’s a brilliant answer.  I – all I could really do is foot-stomp what Mira has already said.  We approach the region from the perspective of advancing our affirmative agenda – the shared interests and values that we hold in common with our Pacific partners.That’s our focus, not any notion of focusing on a third party.  And as we often say, we have a regional strategy.  We’re focused on our affirmative agenda.  And I think if we continue to deliver benefits to our partners in the Indo-Pacific, I’m very confident and optimistic about our future together.In particular, as Dr. Rapp-Hooper has indicated, our entire approach to the Pacific is predicated on meeting our Pacific Island friends where they live.  In other words, in conversation with our Pacific partners, we have understood clearly what their needs and concerns and interests are, as outlined very clearly in the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.  And by design, our work and the work of our other partners through the Partners in the Blue Pacific is specifically designed to address the needs that they themselves have outlined in their strategy.Again, that is the focus of our efforts, not any third parties.  Thank you.MODERATOR:  Okay.  The next question is going to go to Rurika Imahashi, who submitted the question on the chat, the Q&amp;A box here on Zoom.  “Our understanding is that the Marshall Islands parliament will soon certify the compact deal with the U.S.  What is the U.S. understanding on the development of the agreement?”  So we’ll answer that part.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, why don’t I take an initial stab at this one and we’ll ask you, obviously, to add anything else that you would like.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Sounds good.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  I guess what I would say to any friends with questions about the compacts, I would just simply underscore that the compacts remain of vital importance to the United States.  I think they recognize our deep and historic ties to the three Freely Associated States.  I think they embody the strong ties between the peoples and the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.  And we remain very optimistic about the progress that we’ve made in the compact-related negotiations.I know when Secretary Blinken sat down with the leaders of the three Freely Associated States, he really commended them for the progress that we’ve made.  I think as everyone is tracking, we signed COFA-related agreements with Palau in May and with the Federated States of Micronesia in May, and we’ve made tremendous progress with our friends in the Marshall Islands.  We’re confident that we will conclude all of these agreements very soon and we will continue to build out these incredibly significant relationships that are central to everything we hope to achieve in the Pacific.And I think, as friends are tracking, that these compacts really are extraordinary agreements that are 20-year agreements in duration, and again, we’re confident that we will conclude them and implement them very soon.But, Mira, would you like to add anything to that?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Not much that I could add, Dan, except just to foot-stomp the point that we believe we are well on our way; we’ll soon be at a successful conclusion and very much look forward to being able to mark that milestone after months of really terrific cooperation with all of the Freely Associated States.  That’s all for me.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Yeah, and maybe just one final comment.  I think Mira’s comments reminded me that I do want to recognize that obviously this work is all being done at the direction of President Biden and Secretary Blinken, but our Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations Joe Yun and his team have also done a brilliant job and I really commend them.  And as Mira indicated, we’re very close and look forward to implementing them very soon.MODERATOR:  The next question will go to Stephen Wright from Radio Free Asia’s BenarNews Service.  Stephen, I also see that your hand is up.  If you’d like to unmute and ask your question, please go ahead.  Yeah, please go ahead and unmute.QUESTION:  Yeah, thanks.  Prime Minister Sogavare didn’t attend the recent summit and subsequently he said the U.S. should show respect to Pacific Island leaders and not lecture them at summits.  What do you think that shows about the progress of U.S. and Solomon Islands relations?  And are there any plans to have an ambassador at the new but smaller embassy in the Solomon Islands?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks very much.  This is Mira; I’m happy to take a first crack at this, and Dan, perhaps I’ll pass to you just on the embassy piece.We were disappointed that Prime Minister Sogavare was unable to attend the summit in Washington.  We did reach out, including at the very highest levels, to encourage him to join us for this terrific conversation that we’ve been laying out for you here, this opportunity to engage amongst friends, and we’re disappointed that he declined to do so.I don’t have much to say about the specific comments except to note, I think as we have been throughout this call tonight, that the conversation with the President, with the Secretary of State, with every cabinet official and member of Congress at the Pacific Island Forum leaders met with was collaborative, constructive, forward-looking, and I think most importantly involved an incredible amount of listening by U.S. Government officials to continue to refine their understanding of what our Pacific Island Forum friends are most looking for from us.So that’s the approach that we’re going to continue to take.  We continue to believe that it’s the right approach.  We feel that our three really dynamic days of programming show that we’re on the right track, and we look forward to continuing that work on the road ahead.Dan, over to you.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Thank you, Mira.  Maybe specifically on the question regarding our presence in the Solomon Islands, I’ll just note that we were excited and honored to open our new U.S. embassy in Honiara in January of this year, which was less than one year after Secretary Blinken announced our intent to do so.  Really excited about the work that our embassy colleagues there, led by Chargé Russ Comeau – excited about the work that they’re doing, again, to build our friendship and our ties with the people of the Solmon Islands and ensure that we work to deliver tangible benefits to our partners there.Of course, any new first step in opening an embassy involves staffing it, and of course our chargé d’affaires currently leading our embassy efforts there, and we recognized him for his really stellar work there.I would simply say at this point we have taken a number of steps internally to identify the U.S. ambassador, the next U.S. ambassador to the Solomon Islands, and I don’t have anything to announce to you this evening.  But I hope we’ll have something to announce in the near future, but we are certainly working towards that end.  Thank you.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Dan, if I may just jump in really quickly to add one additional detail.  I did want to note, as Dan noted, the – our wonderful Chargé Russ Comeau in the Solmon Islands was given a really important inaugural award at the dinner so graciously hosted by Secretary Blinken during the Pacific Island Forum Summit.  That inaugural award commemorates intrepid diplomacy in the Pacific Islands, and Chargé Comeau really embodies that to a T.  He has been just absolutely indefatigable in working to build U.S.-Solomons ties.I underscore that because I do want to make clear that the purpose of an award like this is to continue to draw attention to and raise up Americans who are doing their utmost on the ground to build ties with the Pacific Islands.  And I think the fact that we’ve established this award this year, that it was given by the Secretary of State, is just yet another demonstration that we are continuing to create incentives, recognize achievements so that Americans continue to step up and deliver on our promises throughout the Pacific.MODERATOR:  Okay.  I realize that we’re running a little bit over.  We started a few minutes late, so we’ll take a couple more questions.  We have one from Daniel Hurst from The Guardian.  “To what extent is the United States concerned about the newly announced comprehensive strategic partnership between Timor-Leste and China?  Why or why not?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Perhaps I can take an initial crack at that one and then ask Mira to chime in.  Look, I think as we indicated earlier, our message to partners in the region is that we’re not asking countries to choose.  We’re in the business of trying to ensure that countries have the ability to make their own sovereign decisions and their own choices free from coercion.My second point would be, as indicated earlier, we’re focused on our affirmative agenda in the region, including with friends in Timor-Leste, and we’ll continue to do that.  We’ll focus on how we can further build out our friendship and partnership with counterparts in the region, including Timor-Leste, and focus on the great work that we can do together.But again, we’re not in the business of asking countries to choose, and I don’t really think it’s beneficial to try to get into some kind of a comparison game or comment on engagement of other partners with the PRC.But, Mira, what would you like to add to that?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Nothing to add, Dan.  I’m in violent agreement.MODERATOR:  Great.  We are – let’s see.  If the speakers are okay, can we take one more question?ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Absolutely.  Please.MODERATOR:  Great.  Great.  And this one is from Mar-Vic Cagurangan from the Pacific Island Times, based in Tamuning, Guam, who sent it in advance:  “How will a federal shutdown affect the Compact of Free Association, COFA?  Will the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and Palau continue to receive funds throughout the shutdown?  Do you think this affect – this will affect the U.S. credibility with the Freely Associated States?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, perhaps I could provide an initial answer on this one as well and then be happy to turn to you.  Yeah, I really do appreciate the question, and I’ll just underscore what I mentioned earlier.  We’re really excited about the progress we’ve made in the compact negotiations and we’re confident that all of these agreements will be concluded soon.The issue that you raised here was discussed in some detail in the meeting between Secretary Blinken and the three leaders from the Freely Associated States, and I can assure you that we are in very close and constant communication with our friends both in the Freely Associated States and with leaders on Capitol Hill to make sure that we have a plan going forward under all circumstances that will allow us to meet our obligations under the compacts.I think, as friends may be tracking, that the draft Compact of Free Association agreements, the draft legislation on the Hill includes authority to continue programs and services at the same levels provided under current agreements until the new agreements are in place so as to avoid a lapse in services.  And we’re also working very closely with our friends so that if there were to be any kind of a lapse in appropriations that we can take the appropriate mitigating steps wherever possible to minimize any possible impacts on our friends in the Freely Associated States.But I think that I can assure you we’re in close and frequent contact with our friends in the Freely Associated States and I’m confident we have a plan to work through any contingency.Mira, what would you like to add?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Nothing to add, Dan.  Thanks so much.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And for our closing remarks, I’d like to turn it back to Dr. Rapp-Hooper.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks so much, folks, for joining us this evening.  I think from this conversation you’ve gotten a pretty good lay of the land of the incredibly substantive set of conversations that took place in Washington this week.  The point I want to emphasize before we let you go is that for us, this project, this promise to renew our ties, renew our commitment to the Pacific Islands, is really about much more than a three-day summit.  It’s about delivery on the promises that we’ve made in the last two years, which I think we showed in spades this week, but on delivery on those new conversations and those new commitments that have been made just this week.We have clear instructions from the President, the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, and many others to move out expeditiously on everything that we announced alongside our Pacific Island friends earlier this week, and we intend to literally put our money where our mouth is and deliver on everything that we seek to do together in the Pacific, whether that is providing finance so that friends in the Pacific can more quickly and readily adapt to climate change or providing micro and small loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses so that women leaders in particular can get the financing they need to allow them to contribute to increasingly dynamic Pacific economies.So we’re really just still in the opening chapter of the new Pacific story that we’re writing here under the Biden administration, but we feel like we have made tremendous progress in just the last two years, and we are emerging from this week’s summit energized and ready to hit the ground running with this new set of programs and new set of promises, and we look forward to being back in touch to share more about how this exciting work is all going.MODERATOR:  And Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink, I’ll turn it over to you for any closing remarks.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  I can’t say it any better than that.  Beautifully summarized by Mira.  Really grateful to all of our friends in the media for joining us here tonight.  And as Mira indicated, we’re committed to now implementing all of the agreements and the objectives that we’ve set out flowing from this latest summit, and very optimistic, again, about our future ahead with friends in the Pacific.  Thanks again for joining us tonight.MODERATOR:  That brings us to the end of our time today.  Thank you for your questions and thank you to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and Dr. Rapp-Hooper for joining us.  We will provide a transcript of this briefing to participating journalists as soon as it is available.  We’d also love to hear your feedback, and you can contact us at any time at AsiaPacMedia@state.gov.  Thank you again for your participation and we hope you can join us for another briefing soon.
- Samoa HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Samoa				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Samoa																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																									Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				The Independent State of Samoa is a peaceful parliamentary democracy with a proud history of free press, an independent judiciary, and a strong record of protecting human rights. It has a population of approximately 200,000 and a nominal GDP of USD 844 million. Samoa became the 155th member of the World Trade Organization in May 2012, and it is a member of the Commonwealth. Samoa is experiencing a deep recession due in large part to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the World Bank downgraded Samoa’s classification to “lower-middle income” from its previous status as an “upper-middle income” country.Samoa is one of the most politically and economically stable democratic island countries in the Pacific. Following a months-long peaceful political impasse, Samoa experienced its first political transition in almost 40 years in 2021 and Fiame Naomi Mata’afa became Samoa’s first-ever female prime minister.Samoa is located south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. Samoa’s total land area is 1,097 square miles, consisting of the two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i, which account for 99 percent of the total land area, and eight small islets. About 80 percent of land is customary land, owned by villages, with the remainder either freehold or government owned. Customary land can be leased, but not sold.In the past decade, Samoa has taken steps to align its systems more closely with nations in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. Samoans drove on the right side of the road (like the United States) until 2009, at which time the country shifted to driving on the left side as done in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Until 2011, Samoa was located east of the international dateline in the same time zone as Hawaii but is now one of the first countries in the world to start each day.The small island country has experienced catastrophic natural disasters, including a 2009 earthquake and tsunami that killed hundreds, and severe cyclones in 2012 and 2018. These calamities have inflicted damage equivalent to a quarter of Samoa’s GDP, representing significant setbacks to the economy.In February 2021, the Central Bank of Samoa stated that the country’s economy was in full recession as the impact of COVID-19 global pandemic affected all sectors. From a peak in 2019, Samoa’s GDP contracted by over 7.5 percent in real terms through the end of 2021. The recession was caused by declines in tourism, business services, transport, and the communications sector. Samoa’s government understands that that its economy needs external investment and is generally welcoming of FDI.The service sector accounts for nearly three-quarters of GDP and employs approximately 65 percent of the formally employed labor force. Pre-COVID-19, tourism was the largest single activity. The government shut Samoa’s borders from March 2020 until August 2022 in response to the pandemic and tourism is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index2022N/Ahttp://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overviewGlobal Innovation Index2022N/Ahttps://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicatorU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2021USD 20Mhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/World Bank GNI per capita2021USD 3,810https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Samoa welcomes business and investors. Samoa’s fertile soil, English-speaking and educated workforce, and tropical climate offer advantages to focused investors, though the country&#8217;s distance from major markets affects the cost of imports and exports. Historically the main productive sectors of the economy are agriculture and tourism, and the economy depends heavily on overseas remittances.For investors, Samoa offers a trained, productive, and industrially adaptable work force that communicates well in English; competitive wage rates; free repatriation of capital and profits; well-developed, reasonably priced transport infrastructure, telecommunications, water supply, and electricity; a stable financial environment; relatively low corporate and income taxes; and a pleasant and safe lifestyle.All businesses in the greater Apia area have access to broadband and Wi-Fi, which is reasonably reliable and fast, but relatively expensive. In rural Upolu and on Savaii Island there is limited availability of high-speed internet, but reliable Wi-Fi through personal mobile routers is universal. In 2018, Samoa completed the installation of a National Broadband Highway which provides fiber optic data services and 4G LTE cellular data speeds to the entire country. 4G LTE data speeds are operative and commercially available nationwide.Foreign Investors are permitted 100 percent ownership in all different sectors of industry except for as below.The following businesses are reserved for Samoan Citizens only:1.Bus transport services for the general public;2.Taxi transport services for the general public;3.Rental vehicles;4.Retailing;5.Saw milling; and6.Traditional elei garment designing and printing.The following businesses are subject to certain ownership restrictions:1.Fishing;2.Manufacturing;3.Services;4.Sanitation and similar services.Please see Samoa&#8217;s Foreign Investment Amendment Act 2011 for a more detailed Reserved List and Restricted List:  http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ws/legis/consol_act_2020/fia2000219/fia2000219.html?stem=&amp;synonyms=&amp;query=foreign%20investment%20act .The Investment Promotion division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor (MCIL) provides information about investing and doing business in Samoa: https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/investment-promotion-and-industry-development/investment-promotion/ .																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Foreign investors are permitted 100 percent ownership in all different sectors of the industry except for conditions for restricted activities listed above.Please see Samoa&#8217;s Foreign Investment Amendment Act 2011 for a more detailed Reserved List and Restricted List at:  http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ws/legis/consol_act_2020/fia2000219/fia2000219.html?stem=&amp;synonyms=&amp;query=foreign%20investment%20act 																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										The World Trade Organization conducted a Trade Policy review of Samoa in 2019:  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp486_e.htm .The IMF’s regular Article IV reports are available at:  https://www.imf.org/en/countries/wsm?selectedfilters=Article%20IV%20Staff%20Reports#whatsnew .Samoa&#8217;s latest national investment policy statement can be found here:  https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/investment-promotion-and-industry-development/investment-promotion/ .The Strategy for the Development of Samoa can be found here: https://www.mof.gov.ws/services/economic-policy-planning/national-development-plans-for-samoa/ .Samoa&#8217;s Sector Plans are available here:  https://www.mof.gov.ws/services/economic-policy-planning/sector-plans/ .																																				Business Facilitation										The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor (MCIL) administers Samoa’s foreign investment policy and regulations ( https://www.mcil.gov.ws/ ). To open a branch of an existing corporation in Samoa, one must register the company for about USD 100. For a company to qualify as a “Samoan company,” the majority of shareholders must be Samoan. The fee to register an overseas company is about USD 115. All businesses with foreign shareholdings must obtain and hold valid foreign investment registration certificates. The application fee is about USD 50 and can be obtained by contacting MCIL. Certificates are valid until the business terminates activity. If a business does not commence activity within two years after a certificate is issued, the certificate becomes invalid. Upon approval of the FIC, the foreign investor is then required to apply for a business license before operating in Samoa. Fees range from USD 100-USD 250, depending on the type of business.Land has a special status in Samoa, as it does in most Pacific Island countries. Under the country’s land classification system, about 80 percent of all land is customary land, owned by villages, with the remainder either freehold (private) or government owned. The standard method for obtaining customary land, which cannot be bought or sold, is through long-term leases that must be negotiated with the local communities. A typical lease for business use might be for 30 years, with the option of a further 30 years after that, but longer terms can be negotiated. It should be noted that customary land cannot be mortgaged, and thus cannot be used as collateral to raise capital or credit. Freehold land, mostly based in and around Apia, can be bought, sold and mortgaged. Only Samoan citizens may buy freehold land unless approval is obtained from Samoa’s Head of State.The Foreign Investment Amendment Act 2011 is the preeminent legislation on foreign investment:  http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ws/legis/consol_act_2020/fia2000219/fia2000219.html?stem=&amp;synonyms=&amp;query=foreign%20investment%20act .Business RegistrationStep 1: Register your company and obtain a Foreign Investment Certificate at MCIL.  https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/business-registration/companies/  https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/business-registration/foreign-investment-registration/ Step 2: Obtain a business license and register for VAGST and PAYE from the Ministry of Revenue. https://www.revenue.gov.ws/business-license-matters/ Step 3: Register with the National Provident Fund. http://npf.ws/empregistration Step 4: Register with the Accident Compensation Corporation. https://acc.gov.ws/levy-registration/ Step 5: Apply for Foreign Employment Employee Permit.  https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/employment/foreign-employment-employee/ Step 6: Apply for Residence Permit. This allows non-citizens to reside in Samoa.  https://mpmc.gov.ws/divisions/immigration/ Many parts of these registrations can be done online, but some may require payment in person.MCIL has an Investment Promotion and Industry Development Division (IPIDD) with services available to all investors: https://www.mcil.gov.ws/services/investment-promotion-and-industry-development/ .Samoa’s Ministry of Revenue only distinguishes between small/medium enterprises (less than USD 400,000 in annual turnover) and large enterprises (over USD 400,000 in annual turnover). Priority service is given to large enterprises.																																				Outward Investment										There is minimal outward investment from Samoa beyond several stationery and apparel stores having branches in New Zealand and American Samoa. The government and economy are more focused on increasing exports of Samoan products. The government does not appear to restrict investment abroad.Pacific Islands Trade and Invest ( https://pacifictradeinvest.com/about/ ) is a resource for companies looking to establish themselves overseas.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Samoa is not party to any bilateral investment or bilateral taxation treaties.Samoa is a Party to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus which entered into force December 2020. PACER Plus is a regional trade, development, and economic cooperation agreement to facilitate regional trade and promote economic cooperation and partnerships; promote a stable and predictable environment to progressively remove barriers to trade; and support sustainable economic development.There are ten Parties to the PACER Plus Agreement: Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu). A PACER Plus Implementation Unit was established in Samoa in 2021 to implement the Agreement’s Development and Economic Cooperation Work Program.In 2009, the EU, Fiji and PNG negotiated and signed an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-Pacific IEPA) to secure market access for sugar and canned fish to the EU. The EPA negotiation have been suspended. In December 2018, Samoa acceded to the EU-Pacific IEPA to secure duty-free access of exports to the EU following the expiration of preferences for Samoa under the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBAs) scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDC).As part of the United Kingdom’s preparations to exit the European Union, the UK sought to develop new trade agreements to replicate, as far as possible, the provisions of existing EU trade arrangements. In 2019, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and UK negotiated and signed the UK- Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to maintain trade with the Pacific. The Agreement replicates the Pacific-EU Interim EPA through the elimination of tariffs and entered into force January 2021. Samoa acceded to the agreement with effect from March 31, 2022..																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										The Government uses transparent policies and effective laws to establish “clear rules of the game.” Accounting, legal and regulatory procedures are all consistent with international norms. According to the Samoa Institute of Accountants, businesses adhere to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing and Quality Assurance.Draft bills are made available through the parliamentary website,  https://www.palemene.ws/parliament-business/bills/ , but are not made available for formal public comment. Those who wish to make a comment on the bill are given the opportunity to do so before a Parliamentary Committee. Public notices are televised and printed on local newspaper for the awareness of the public that there is an avenue to voice their opinions on drafted Government policies.The Office of the Regulator (OOTR) was established in 2006 under the Telecommunications Act 2005 to provide regulatory services for the telecommunications sector in Samoa. However, the Broadcasting and Postal Services Acts 2010 also provide regulatory framework for broadcasting and postal sectors in Samoa. These Acts require the Regulator to establish a fair, unbiased, and ethical regime for implementing the objects of these Acts including licensing of telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services, promotion of new services and investment, consumer protection, prevention of anti-competitive activities by service providers, and management of the radio spectrum and national number plans. OOTR also approves the Electric Power Corporation’s Power Purchase Agreements with Independent Power Providers and reviews EPC’s Power Extension Plan.Finances and expenditures of the government are published twice on an annual basis, and available through the parliament website. Debt obligations are published on a quarterly basis by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics through its quarterly reports.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										Samoa is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, which is an 18-member inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.Samoa’s system of government is based on the Westminster Parliamentary system. Samoa’s Companies Act 2001 contains a modern regulatory regime based on New Zealand company law.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										The Samoan legal system has its foundations in English and Commonwealth statutory and common law. Various business structures utilized in common law are recognized: sole traders, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, and trusts (including unit trusts). These structures are regulated by legislation including the Companies Act 2001, Partnership Act 1975, Trustee Act 1975, and Unit Trusts Act 2008. Samoa’s Companies Act 2001 contains a modern regulatory regime based on New Zealand company law. It allows the incorporation of a sole person company (i.e., one person being both shareholder and director) and directors need not be resident in Samoa.A Samoa incorporated private company is a separate legal entity and a corporation under Samoan law. It must file an annual return with the Registrar of Companies specifying details of directors, shareholders, registered office etc. There is no requirement for private companies to file annual financial reports with the Companies Registry nor are there any minimum capital requirements.The judicial system is largely independent from the executive branch. In December 2020, the National Parliament passed into law three controversial bills that fundamentally changed country’s constitution and judicial system. The three bills, the Constitution Amendment Bill, Lands and Titles Bill, and Judicature Bill, were passed by Parliament with a vote of 41-4. The bills were opposed by the judiciary and the Samoa Law Society for lack of consultation and the impact on human rights and rule of law. The Australian and New Zealand Law Societies, and other international organizations issued statements in support of the judiciary and the law society. The new laws have in effect divided the judicial system into parallel courts of equal standing: one to deal with criminal and civil matters, and the other with customary land and titles. There are outstanding questions about the constitutionality of the new laws.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor administers Samoa’s foreign investment policy and regulations under the Foreign Investment Amendment Act 2011. All businesses with any foreign ownership require foreign investment approval by MCIL. ( https://www.mcil.gov.ws/ ).																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor&#8217;s Fair Trading and Codex Alimentarius Division (FTCD) handles competition related concerns. The main pieces of legislation regarding competition are the Fair Trading Act 1998, the Consumer Information Act 1989, and the Measures Ordinance 1960.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Samoa’s constitution prohibits expropriation without compensation, and expropriation cases in Samoa are rare. There was one significant case that occurred in 2009 over land designated for a new six-story government building. A business signed a 20-year lease with the government in 2005 but was then asked to move in 2008 to make way for the new building. The business moved but won a settlement in the Court of Appeals against the government for a much larger sum than the government initially offered the business for vacating the land.																																				Dispute Settlement										The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2007 (amended 2013) outlines ADR procedures for both criminal and civil proceedings. Samoa has an Accredited Mediators of Samoa Association that was put in place to help resolve (largely commercial) disputes.																ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Samoa has been party to the ICSID since 1978. Samoa is not party to the New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						The provisions of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 have full effect in relation to disputes that involve foreign investors in Samoa. Foreign investors are subject to this Act.The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2007 also provides alternative dispute resolution procedures where civil or criminal cases may arise.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The provisions of the Arbitration Act 1976 have full effect in relation to disputes that involve foreign investors in Samoa. Subject to this Act and to any other law in Samoa, the Convention Settlement of Investment Disputes signed in Washington on the 3rd of February 1978 and ratified by Samoa on the 25th of April 1978, has the force of law in Samoa. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2007 also provides alternative dispute resolution procedures where civil or criminal cases may arise.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										Bankruptcies are governed by the Samoa Bankruptcy Act of 1908, which gives broad rights to the judiciary to issue orders related the property of any debtor or bankrupt who becomes subject to the Act. The judiciary has the authority to decide all questions of priorities.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										Samoa’s government is very reluctant to provide government guarantees or financing for projects. In rare circumstances, the government may provide land for certain business projects, or be instrumental in securing land of interest.The Industry Development and Investment Promotion Division (IDIPD) under MCIL administers several schemes designed to assist businesses that produce for overseas and domestic markets. Such schemes offer duty concessions on imported goods for the tourism and manufacturing industries and income tax exemptions for up to five years for hotel operators.The government does not offer incentives for clean energy investments.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										Samoa does not have any Free Trade Zones, Duty Free Zones, Special Economic Zones, or areas with special tax treatment.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										In order to hire a non-Samoan citizen for a job, one must prove that the required skillset is not available through the local labor force.There is no forced localization in terms of goods or technology.There is no forced localization of data other than the industry exceptions outlined in the Intellectual Property section below.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										Leasing of Land: In accordance with the Alienation of Customary Land Act 1965 and the Alienation of Freehold Land Act 1972, land may be leased for up to 30 years renewable once in the case of land leased or licensed for industrial purposes or a hotel and 20 years renewable once in the other cases.Land holdings and ownership in Samoa fall into three (3) categories:These lands are not for sale but can be leased out to foreigners as well as locals. All leased lands in this category are registered with the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment. In case of dispute, ownership is decided by the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration.2. Public LandThe Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources administers the database of Government land available for lease. Applications for leasing of land should be submitted to the Chairman of the Samoa Land Board.3. Freehold LandFreehold land cannot be sold or leased to someone who is not a citizen of Samoa, except with the proper consent of the Head of State.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Samoa is not on USTR’s Special 301 list or the Notorious Markets Report.Samoa has legislation protecting patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks. Enforcement is moderate.To protect and safeguard intellectual property in Samoa, the Government has passed the following laws:a) Copyrights Act 1998 &#8211; applies to work including books, pamphlets, articles,computer programs, speeches, lectures, musical works, audiovisual, works ofarchitecture etc.b) Intellectual Property Act 2013 &#8211; for the registration and enforcement of rights ofowners of Trademarks, Patents, Industrial designs, GI, and Plant varieties.For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/. 																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										The capital market is regulated by the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS). Since January 1998, the Central Bank has implemented monetary policy by issuing its own Securities using market-based techniques &#8211; commonly known as Open Market Operations (OMO). CBS Securities are the predominant monetary policy instrument, which is issued to influence the amount of liquidity in the financial system.Capital markets in Samoa are in their infancy with the Unit Trust of Samoa (UTOS) domestic market established in 2010, and no international stock exchange.Samoa has accepted the obligations of IMF Article VIII, Sections 2, 3, and 4, and maintains an exchange system that is free of restrictions on payments and transfers for current international transactions.																																				Money and Banking System										Samoa is well-served with banking and finance infrastructure. It has four commercial banks, complimented by a dynamic development bank. The sector is regulated by the Central Bank of Samoa. The largest banks are regional operators ANZ and BSP, which offer a wide range of services based upon electronic banking platforms. Although they service all markets, they tend to dominate the top-end, encompassing corporate, government and high net worth individuals. Samoa is still a cash-based society, however, and this has enabled two locally owned entrants, the National Bank of Samoa and Samoa Commercial Bank, to each garner double-digit market share, despite entering the market quite recently.The banking sector appears relatively healthy.With its International Finance Centre (Samoa International Finance Authority &#8211; SIFA)—the first Pacific center to be white-listed by the OECD—and a well-structured financial services sector, Samoa is well placed to service the needs of both local and offshore businesses.The Government, through the Central Bank, has been largely resistant of block chain technologies. Their skepticism is somewhat warranted with the discovery of several cryptocurrency schemes operating in the country widely believed to be scams.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) controls all foreign exchange transactions as well as matters relating to monetary stability and supply of money within the country. This includes international transactions, overseas transfer of funds and funding of imports, and registration of insurance companies. Repatriation of overseas capital and profits is normally permitted provided the original investment entered Samoa through the banking system or in an otherwise formally approved manner. Investors also have the freedom to repay principal and interest on foreign loans raised for the purpose of the investment and the freedom to pay fees to foreign parties for the use of intellectual property rights.Transfers of currency are protected by Article VII of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Articles of Agreement ( http://www.imf.org/External/Pubs/FT/AA/index.htm#art7 ).						Remittance Policies						Repatriation of capital and profit remittances on foreign capital is permitted, although it must be approved by the CBS based on submission of necessary documents, such as the following:a) Application letter explaining the request;b) Audited accounts relating to the profit remittance year(s) requested;c) A copy of the Authorized Directors’ Resolution approving the specified dividend payment; andd) Confirmation of any associated tax payments to the Ministry of Customs and Revenue (MCR).																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										There is no sovereign wealth fund or asset management bureau in Samoa. The country has the Samoa National Provident Fund which manages and invests members’ savings for their retirement.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						Private enterprises are allowed to compete with public enterprises under the same terms and conditions. Laws and rules do not offer preferential treatment to SOEs. State-owned enterprises are subject to budget constraints, and these are enforced.SOEs are active in the Energy, Water, Tourism, Aviation, Banking, Agriculture supplies, and Ports/Airports sectors. Laws do not provide for a leading role for SOEs or limit private enterprise activity in sectors in which SOEs operate. SOEs have government-appointed boards and operate with varying degrees of autonomy with respect to their governing Ministry.SOEs follow a normal corporate structure with a board of directors and executive management. All SOEs have boards of directors who are appointed by a cabinet minister. Some SOEs have board seats allocated specifically to the heads of certain government ministries.By law SOEs are required to present financials to their board of directors, shareholding Ministry and the National Auditor. Timely compliance, however, varies between SOEs.																										Privatization Program										Samoa does not have an active privatization program. The most recent major privatizations in Samoa were in broadcasting (2008) and telecommunications (2011), both resulting in significant gains in efficiency and benefits to both producer and consumer. The 2011 telecommunications privatization was to a foreign company.Procedures for establishing all businesses are provided under existing legislation, including the Companies Amendment Act 2006, the Foreign Investment Amendment Act 2011, the Business License Act 1998, the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, the Central Bank Act and Guidelines, and the Health Ordinance 1959 (Part 11, 111 clause 13 &amp; 15).																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						There is a general awareness of responsible business conduct (RBC) among both producers and consumers, and foreign and local enterprises are expected to follow generally accepted RBC principles such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Firms that pursue RBC are viewed favorably but consumers generally prioritize value for money ahead of RBC claims.The government fairly enforces domestic laws and protects human rights. The government encourages local enterprises to follow generally accepted RBC principals.There are no extractive industries in Samoa.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOffice of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions ).Department of LaborFindings on the Worst forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ ).																																				Climate Issues										Samoa’s Nationally Determined Contribution – available at  https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NDCStaging/Pages/All.aspx  – provides the basis for the country’s climate strategy. Samoa’s NDC recognizes that the island nation is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its geographic location and its economic reliance on fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. The NDC states that Samoa is already experiencing higher average temperatures, greater frequency in extreme rainfall events, sea level rise, and increases in ocean acidification and coastal erosion.Per its NDC, Samoa aims to reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent in 2030 as compared to 2007 levels. As part of its adaptation plan, Samoa aims to expand the area of mangrove forests by five percent by 2030 (relative to 2018), expand the area under agroforestry by five percent by 2030 (relative to 2018), and increase total forest cover by two percent by 2030 (relative to 2013). Samoa developed Community Integrated Management (CIM) Plans to identify prioritized adaption plans for each of Samoa’s 368 villages. Samoa’s contribution to the world’s greenhouse gases is negligible.Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also released a Climate Change Policy in 2020, available at  https://www.mnre.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Samoa-Climate-Change-Policy-2020-2030.pdf . The policy aims to improve coordination of climate change work in the country and enhance cooperation and collaboration between government and all stakeholders.The government does not specify legally binding expectations on private sector contributions to achieving relevant targets and goals, but the government is very focused on climate-friendly policies and any project that depends on government support or approval would benefit from climate-friendly practices. Public procurement practices may include environmental and green growth considerations. The government does not formally offer regulatory incentives for climate-friendly policies.With limited domestic resources, Samoa’s government is explicit that its climate goals cannot be achieved without external financing.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Samoa ratified the UN Anticorruption Convention in 2018. It is not signatory to the OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery. Corruption has not been specifically identified as an obstacle to foreign investment. Both corruption and bribery are criminalized and prosecuted, and the laws appear to be impartially applied.The Office of the Ombudsman is charged with investigating official corruption. There are no international, non-governmental &#8220;watchdog&#8221; organizations represented locally. Samoa was not assessed by the Transparency International’s CPI report 2022 report.																										Resources to Report Corruption										Contact at the government agency or agencies that are responsible for combating corruption:Ms. Luamanuvao Katalaina SapoluOmbudsmanLevel 2, SNPF Plaza, SavalaloP. O. BOX 3036 Apia, Samoa(685) 25394 info@ombudsman.gov.ws Contact at a &#8220;watchdog&#8221; organization:UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC)Bangkok, Thailand+66 2 288 2100 fo.thailand@unodc.org  																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Samoa is a peaceful parliamentary democracy with no history of politically motivated violence or civil disturbance. The risk of civil disorder is low. There is no civil strife or insurrection. There are no significant border disputes at risk of escalating into conflict. Law and order are well maintained by the Samoa Police Service with support from the village chiefs and other traditional/church authorities if required. There are no examples of politically motivated damage to projects or installations in recent years.Samoa experienced a measles epidemic in 2019 and the government implemented strict border closures from 2020 until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both severely affected local business with varying degrees of cessation of economic activity. Samoa has demonstrated that it will take extreme measures to prevent loss of life, even at the expense of massive economic losses.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						The 2021 Census placed the total workforce (people 15-64 years of age) at 114,929 people. Although the government does not release regular unemployment figures, only about 12 percent of the population – 24,269 people – were registered as employed in the formal sector in the quarter ended December 31, 2022.Wages and salaries are comparatively low. Private sector minimum wage is roughly USD 1.11 an hour.Local skilled labor is available in sufficient quantities to undertake most types of building work, except for some specialized skills and supervisory-level manpower, which is recruited locally and from abroad. To hire foreign workers, one must provide MCIL and Samoan immigration with justification that the position cannot be filled locally. This process is viewed as fair and straightforward.Samoan First Union, the country&#8217;s only private sector union, was officially launched in 2015. It is an extension of the New Zealand-based First Union. One of their major pushes was for a WST 3 (USD 1.11) minimum wage, which was achieved in 2019.Collective bargaining in the private sector is allowed, but not common in Samoa. The Labor and Employment Relations Act 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 2014, and the Labor and Employment Relations Regulations 2015 are the most current pieces of labor legislation, all of which meet core international standards.Labor laws are not waived to attract new investment.More information can be found through Samoa’s Child Labor Report																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						DFC insurance is available to investors in Samoa, and OPIC can provide political risk insurance, finance, direct loans, and loan guarantees. There are currently no DFC-funded projects in Samoa.The registry of insurance companies in Samoa is kept and maintained by the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) and can be contacted for further insurance related matters.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmount Host Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2021$808.3 2021$843.8www.worldbank.org/en/countryForeign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$20BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/AN/ABEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A202138.8%UNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report* Source for Host Country Data: Samoa Bureau of Statistics – National Accounts Aggregates Annual Analysis 2022. Based on contemporaneous exchange rate of 1 USD=2.71 WST Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDIData not available.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Funefe&#8217;ai Dikaiosune Atoa TamaaliiPolitical-Economic SpecialistU.S. Embassy, Apia, Samoa(+685) 21631 X2241AtoaTamaaliiD@state.gov																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											The Gambia											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Netherlands											Nepal											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																							Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Samoa
- Samoa Independence Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of the Independent State of Samoa on your 61st anniversary of independence on June 1.The United States deeply values our strong partnership with Samoa, underpinned by our common values and shared commitment to upholding fundamental freedoms and the close relations between our peoples. We remain committed to working with Samoa to combat the climate crisis, expand our economic ties, and strengthen the rule of law to promote peace, security, and prosperity across the region and the world. We are delighted that Peace Corps volunteers returned to Samoa this year, and we look forward to continuing to advance the program in the future.The United States looks forward to continuing to expand our partnership and deepen our people-to-people ties.
- U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue in Papua New Guinea Office of the SpokespersonSecretary Blinken’s visit to Papua New Guinea for the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue is a testament to renewed U.S. commitment to our Pacific Island neighbors and partners.  At the historic first-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Summit held in Washington in September 2022, President Biden announced a slate of ambitious initiatives that, working with Congress, will provide over $810 million in additional expanded programs to meet Pacific priorities.  The Biden-Harris Administration is following through on these commitments, including through opening new U.S. embassies in the region in record time and expanding our diplomatic and development engagement to unprecedented levels.  The United States is also working together with likeminded partners through the Partners in the Blue Pacific to collectively support Pacific priorities as outlined in the Pacific Islands Forum 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.Today, Secretary Blinken highlighted our commitment to working with Congress for over $7.2 billion in new funding and programs for the Pacific Islands region.  This includes over $45 million in new programming for Papua New Guinea, as well as additional Pacific Islands programming.  The President’s FY 2024 Budget also requests $7.1 billion over 20 years to extend assistance under the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.With these new announcements, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to working with Congress on providing over $8 billion to the Pacific Islands region since the historic first Summit in Washington, demonstrating U.S. commitment to the region.  These announcements include the following lines of effort:I. Delivering on the U.S.-Pacific Islands PartnershipAt the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue, Secretary Blinken and Pacific Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership issued in September 2022.  The Declaration laid out an affirmative vision of cooperation and partnership to address shared challenges, bolster Pacific regionalism, advance economic growth and sustainable development, maintain peace and security in the Blue Pacific continent, and expand opportunities for our peoples.  The United States has been delivering on our commitments from the historic first Summit, the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership, and the first ever U.S. national strategy on the Pacific Islands, the Pacific Partnership Strategy.  This includes our request to Congress for $7.1 billion in funding over 20 years under the Compacts of Free Association for the Freely Associated States and signing agreements to extend Compact-related assistance with the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau to extend Compact-related assistance.Signing Agreements related to the Compacts of Free Association with Palau and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): Extending COFA-related assistance is a critical component of the Administration’s Indo-Pacific, Pacific Partnership, and National Security Strategies, necessary to enhancing our relationships with the Freely Associated States and to maintaining our status as a committed preferred partner in the Pacific.  In Papua New Guinea, Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations Joseph Yun signed the Palau 2023 Compact Review Agreement with Minister of Finance Kaleb Udui.  The United States and FSM will sign Compact related agreements on May 23 in the FSM.New Embassy Openings: S. Embassy Honiara in Solomon Islands opened on January 27, 2023.  U.S. Embassy Nuku&#8217;alofa in Tonga opened on May 9, and a public event is expected in the coming months.  We are in active discussions regarding our interest in opening an embassy in Kiribati and have announced our intent to open an embassy in Vanuatu, subject to host government approval and completion of Congressional notification procedures.Returning Peace Corps to the Region: In September 2022, we announced that the Peace Corps would be returning to the Pacific region.  Peace Corps Volunteers are now on the ground in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, and will return to Vanuatu later this year.  The Peace Corps is also assessing the reestablishment of operations, budget permitting, in Solomon Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. II. Expanding People-to-People ConnectionsThe United States is following through on commitments to strengthen people-to-people ties with our Pacific Islands neighbors.  We are also leveraging connections with academia, sports, and the private sector to build connections between our peoples.Expanding American Spaces in the Pacific: The United States intends to enhance and expand access to our American Spaces across the Pacific with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility and promoting people-to-people connections to build mutual understanding and partnerships.  In modern environments equipped with advanced technologies, visitors to American Spaces can explore and share a wide range of topics and ideas, access reliable information, develop practical professional skills, and participate in programs that foster economic strength, hone critical thinking, and build capacity.  Through a new Regional Public Engagement Specialist (REPS) position in Suva, Fiji, the United States will support the operations of American Spaces throughout the Pacific Islands.  In addition to the recently opened American Center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the United States intends to work with the Carnegie Library in Suva to open an American Corner and develop American Spaces for Solomon Islands, Tonga, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.Building Relationships through Sports in the Pacific: S. sports diplomacy programs in the Pacific are fostering resilience, health, economic development, and gender equity as well as building people-to-people ties.  In the last six months alone, U.S. athletes and coaches in surfing, running, rugby, and football have visited Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, and Kiribati, as well as with Indigenous Australians and New Zealanders.  American female surfers traveled to Papua New Guinea to teach youth surfing skills while advocating for greater gender equity policies in sports.  On May 19, eight Tongan and 10 Fijian female athletes and coaches traveled to the United States to participate in the State Department-funded International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) to build leadership skills and discuss the role that sports can play in preventing gender-based violence.Expanding the Special Professional Fellows Program for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders: For the first time, fellows from Cook Islands, New Caledonia, and Niue will join a group of 10 Fellows from other Pacific Islands on a four-week, U.S.-based exchange to collaborate with U.S. professionals on post-pandemic equitable and sustainable economic recovery  The program features individually tailored Fellowships at private and public sector organizations across the United States which are designed to enhance the Fellows’ leadership and professional skills.  The Professional Fellows Program has supported programming in the Pacific Islands since 2018.Launching the U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders: The Department of State is working with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on the newly created U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders, announced last September.  Beginning in the fall of 2023, this multi-year program will bring exceptional rising leaders from the private sector, government, media, and non-profit organizations across the Pacific to Washington, D.C. for several weeks of professional and leadership development.Announcing the Indo-Pacific Museum Exchange Partnership: In summer 2023, the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs&#8217; Cultural Heritage Center will launch a new, two-year exchange program for cultural heritage specialists from Indo-Pacific countries.  The Indo-Pacific Museum Exchange Partnership will build capacity to preserve and promote national identity and create a network of museum professionals across the region.  Participants from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu will join participants from across the region to develop and share knowledge about collections management, conservation, and public engagement for the cultural objects in the national museums of these countries, many of which are important to Indigenous Peoples and the national identities of these countries.13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture 2024: The United States is pleased to support the Governor of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Community (SPC) in hosting the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) June 6-16, 2024, in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.  We look forward to providing a warm welcome filled with the Aloha Spirit to FestPAC delegations of royal families and Ministers to Indigenous practitioners and student performers next year.III.  Climate Action, Clean Energy, and Sustainable InfrastructureThe United States is committed to keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius limit on global warming within reach, including through outreach to major emitters to raise ambition and to take action in this critical decade.  We are committed to helping Pacific Islands manage both sudden-onset impacts of climate change, such as major storms, and slow-onset impacts such as sea-level rise.  To date, USAID has helped Pacific Islands countries unlock more than $500 million from international organizations such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, and the Global Environment Facility.  The Administration will also work to scale the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) in the region to deliver quality, sustainable energy, physical, digital, health, and climate-resilient infrastructure.Technical Assistance Support for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Pacific Resilience Facility: The United States intends to provide $2 million, subject to Congressional notification and the completion of domestic procedures, to support the PIF to design and stand up the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF).  This program is envisioned to support investments into enhancing adaptation and resilience at the local level in the Pacific Islands.  The United States is proud to be among the founding development partners for this important new initiative promoting better access to climate finance in the Pacific.Reaffirming New Sea-level Rise Policy: The United States reaffirms our sea-level rise policy announced at the September 2022 Summit, which says that climate change-driven sea-level rise “should not diminish” maritime economic zones of coastal states and calls on all countries to commit to supporting this policy by COP 28.Transportation Partnership with the Pacific Islands (TPPI): The Department of Transportation (DOT) and U.S. Trade &amp; Development Agency (USTDA) conducted a joint scoping trip to Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in February 2023 on transportation priorities and challenges to inform the basis for bilateral and regional technical assistance and capacity building activities.  Initial near-term DOT cooperation will focus on aviation safety with the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) and bilaterally through Federal Aviation Administration engagement.  In the medium-term, DOT is exploring other areas of cooperation, including maritime development, decarbonization, transportation safety, sustainability, planning, and inclusivity. USTDA is also currently evaluating transportation opportunities in airport and port upgrades, aviation safety, drone delivery, EVs, and climate-smart transportation.Pacific Islands Port Leaders Visit: USTDA will host a Pacific Islands Port Leaders Visit Reverse Trade Mission that will bring a delegation of 15 port sector leaders from the Pacific Islands to the United States to familiarize them with U.S. technologies, services, and best practices that can improve port operations, security, and sustainability in the region.  The visit advances the goals of the Transportation Partnership with the Pacific Islands, launched last September, by promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure in the region.Pacific Islands Strategic Infrastructure Initiative: USTDA launched a call for proposals to develop quality infrastructure for the Pacific Islands and conducted a six-country scoping mission to the Pacific Islands.  The Call for Proposals closed in April 2023, and USTDA is currently evaluating over 80 proposals from 11 Pacific Islands countries that have the potential to develop high-quality infrastructure projects and help unlock financing.  This work builds on USTDA’s current activities in the Pacific Islands aimed at unlocking over $450 million in financing for clean energy, connectivity, and digital infrastructure solutions.IV. Economic Partnership and RecoveryThe United States is committed to partnering with the Pacific Islands and allies and partners to drive economic growth and prosperity, including through increasing trade and investment; providing assistance to strengthen enabling environments, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability; and continued support for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion of Negotiations on Economic Assistance Agreement Related to the Tuna Treaty: The United States is following through on its pledge to request from Congress $600 million over ten years in connection with a new Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.  We and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency have concluded negotiations on a new 10-year agreement, and the President has included $60 million for the first year of the agreement in the FY 2024 budget request to Congress.  The United States is working on completion of its domestic procedures to conclude the agreement.Supporting Economic Growth by Promoting High Quality Business Opportunities in Pacific Islands Countries: The Department of Commerce will lead a U.S. business delegation to Pacific Islands countries in the coming year, complemented by virtual trade promotion events.  The trade mission delegation will seek to bring U.S. company representatives together with host nation officials, business associations, and potential private sector partners, distributors, and licensees to learn about business opportunities in Pacific Islands countries.  Target market sectors will include high-impact government procurements, particularly in seaports, airports, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors.Increasing Competitiveness and Economic Inclusion by Bolstering Commercial Cooperation with Pacific Islands Countries: The Department of Commerce has begun the process of engaging interested Pacific Islands countries in discussions on bilateral Memoranda of Commercial Cooperation, aimed at supporting partners in expanding trade and investment with the United States, while improving business climates in the Pacific Islands.Technical Assistance for Aviation Security to Support Reopening Borders in the Pacific: Since 2022, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has conducted aviation security oversight visits to Fiji, Samoa, and French Polynesia in support of Pacific border reopening and to ensure the security integrity of the civil aviation sector.  TSA plans to visit Cook Islands and Kiribati in the second half of 2023.  Civil aviation authority representatives from Fiji and Samoa have been nominated to attend the Idaho National Lab Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training in June 2023.  TSA, along with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organization, will host a Joint Covert Testing workshop in July 2023, where countries including Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will learn to utilize joint covert testing programs to strengthen global aviation security effectiveness.Supporting Health through COVID-19 Vaccines:  The United States has provided over 1.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Pacific Islands countries.  Through our partnership with COVAX, the United States has donated over 860,000 life-saving doses of the Pfizer vaccine across the Pacific Islands countries.  Recent deliveries include the first U.S.-donated pediatric Pfizer doses (19,200) to Kiribati and the first U.S.-donated Tris Pfizer vaccines (70,200) to Solomon Islands.  Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we have also provided an additional 476,270 doses to the Freely Associated States of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands.  USAID and HHS, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), are working with partners to ensure these vaccines reach people who need it most and are administered efficiently and safely.Deployment of NOAA Ship Rainier to support Pacific Hydrographic Survey Requests: The United States deployed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Rainier April 30-May 1, 2023, to conduct a hydrographic survey of Kanton Island and its port area per a request from the Kiribati Ministry of Information, Communication, and Transport (MICT). This is the first-ever, high-resolution multibeam mapping mission conducted of Kanton Island, and the data will be used to improve maritime safety and support new infrastructure projects.  NOAA is working with MICT to develop Kiribati’s first integrated geospatial information framework with additional projects forthcoming. V. Bolstering Security Cooperation and Maritime Domain AwarenessThe United States is committed to ensuring the Blue Pacific Continent remains a place of peace and prosperity.  We are strengthening our cooperation with Pacific Islands countries on improving maritime domain awareness, combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and countering transnational criminal activity.Expanding United States Coast Guard (USCG) Security Cooperation in the Pacific: The U.S. Coast Guard conducts cooperative training with Pacific Islands country partners to expand their maritime security capabilities through technical resident training at U.S. Coast Guard schools and focused subject matter expert exchanges.  Under the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement-funded Pacific Australia Maritime Partnership (AMP) program, the USCG continues to provide maritime law enforcement trainings through in-region mobile training team (MTT) engagements with recipients of Australia’s Guardian Class patrol boats.  In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct 15 MTT visits to Pacific Islands countries.Improving Security Sector Governance: At the 2022 Summit we committed to improving security sector governance and institutional capacity of U.S. partners through advisory support efforts.  As part of the Global Defense Reform Program, we are implementing projects in Palau through an embedded senior advisor focused on maritime security governance; in the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands through intermittent capacity building engagements by the U.S. Coast Guard; and in Vanuatu through an embedded senior advisor focused on maritime security and safety.
- Samoa HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Samoa				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Samoa																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution provides for the right to choose, practice, and change one’s religion, and it defines the country as a Christian nation.Parliament debated repealing a 2017 law that required clergy to begin paying income taxes, from which they were previously exempt. In 2021, the government halted enforcement of the law. The government continued to use the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa’s TV2 station to convey political messages.There was reportedly strong societal pressure at the village and local levels to participate in church services and other activities and, in some cases, to give large proportions of household income to support church leaders and projects. Some local denominations continued to own and operate their own television stations, which were available to other religious groups and nonreligious organizations for broadcasting their organizations’ messages.The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires discussed the state of religious freedom with the ombudsman, the country’s highest-ranking official responsible for human rights and religious freedom. A U.S. embassy official also met with representatives of various religious groups to discuss religious freedom and the role of religion in society.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 206,000 (midyear 2022).  According to the 2021 national census, Congregational Christians constitute 27 percent of the population; Roman Catholics, 19 percent; members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 18 percent; Methodists, 12 percent; and members of the Assemblies of God, 10 percent.  Groups together constituting less than 16 percent of the population include Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Congregational Church of Jesus, Church of the Nazarene, nondenominational Protestants, Baptists, Worship Centre, Peace Chapel, Samoa Evangelism, Elim Church, Anglicans, Baha’is, and small numbers of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Jews, primarily in Apia.  Less than 1 percent stated no religion or did not select a religion.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution provides for the right to choose, practice, and change one’s religion. This right may be subject to “reasonable restrictions” by law in the interests of national security or public order, health, morals, or protecting the rights and freedom of others. Legal protections cover discrimination or persecution by private citizens, as well as government officials. The preamble to the constitution describes the country as “an Independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and traditions.” The constitution states, “Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”The government does not require religious groups to register, but groups have the option to register as a charitable trust or incorporated society with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor. Registration is free. Becoming a registered entity entitles groups to receive tax exemptions and legal status. Unregistered religious groups may not formally buy property or pay employees. Individuals or groups may establish a place of worship on community or private land but must obtain approval from the extended family that has claims to the land, as well as from the village council.The ombudsman is the country’s highest-ranking official responsible for human rights, including religious freedom.The constitution provides that no one may be forced to take instruction in a religion other than his or her own and gives each religious group the right to establish its own schools. There is no religious curriculum in public schools. Most non-Christian children attend private schools.The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										In September, parliament debated repealing an income tax law, passed in 2017 and effective in 2018, that required ministers of religion to pay income taxes. The Ministry of Customs and Revenue in 2021 halted enforcement of the law, and as of year’s end, no new charges against pastors for failing to pay taxes had been filed.Villages tend to have one primary Christian church. Village chiefs traditionally choose which church, based on the denomination of their extended families. Sources stated, however, that many villages, such as Vaitele and Vailima, had multiple churches serving different denominations and coexisting peacefully.Chaplains representing the majority of Christian denominations in the country continued to be available to prisoners on a rotational basis. Prisoners of non-Christian faiths had access to counselors from their religion.Although the constitution provides that no one may be forced to take instruction in a religion other than his or her own, sources said many public schools included Christian prayers in their daily routines.The government continued to use the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa’s TV2 station to convey political messages.Public ceremonies typically began with a Christian prayer.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															Community leaders reported there was strong societal pressure at the village and local levels to participate in church services and other activities in addition to supporting church leaders and projects financially.  Social media posts suggested that financial contributions often totaled more than a third of family income.Some local denominations continued to own and operate their own television stations, which were available to other religious groups and nonreligious organizations for broadcasting their organizations’ messages.																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															In September, the Chargé d’Affaires discussed the state of religious freedom with the ombudsman.  A U.S. embassy official also met with representatives of various religious groups to discuss religious freedom and the role of religion in society.																																				    							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Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom																															Samoa
- Samoa HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Samoa				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Samoa																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																											d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																											e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																											f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																											b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																																												Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																																																		Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																																																		Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Samoa is a constitutional parliamentary democracy that incorporates traditional practices into its governmental system. Although the unicameral parliament is elected by universal suffrage, only matai (family chiefs) may be members. After a months-long political impasse following April 2021 parliamentary elections, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa became the country’s first woman prime minister in July 2021. The elections were free and fair on the day, but post-election disputes and the resulting impasse caused some observers to question the legitimacy of the electoral process.The national police, under the Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Corrections Services, maintain internal security. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. There were no reports that members of the security forces committed abuses.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: criminal libel laws that local media regarded as an obstacle to press freedom; lack of investigation of and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence, child abuse, sexual abuse of children, incest, sexual violence, and other harmful practices; existence of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although not enforced; and existence of the worst forms of child labor.The government took steps to prosecute officials who committed human rights abuses or engaged in corruption. There were no reports of impunity for human rights abuses. Impunity for corruption was rare.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no credible reports government officials normally employed them.Impunity was not a significant problem in the security forces.Prison and Detention Center ConditionsThere were no reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Administration:  Authorities permitted prisoners and detainees to submit complaints to judicial authorities and the Office of the Ombudsman and request investigation of alleged problematic conditions.  Authorities investigated such allegations, documented them, and made the results publicly accessible.  The government generally investigated and monitored prison and detention center conditions.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted monitoring visits by independent human rights observers.  During the year there were multiple visits by international organizations and diplomats.																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution and laws prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and provide for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court, and the government generally observed these requirements.Arrest Procedures and Treatment of DetaineesCourts issue arrest warrants based on compelling evidence.  The law provides for the right to a prompt judicial determination of the legality of detention, and authorities generally respected this right.  Officials informed detainees within 24 hours of the charges against them or else released them.  There was a functioning bail system.  The government allowed detainees prompt access to a lawyer of their choice, provided indigent detainees with a lawyer upon request, and did not hold suspects incommunicado or under house arrest.																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.Trial ProceduresThe constitution provides for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right.Village councils handled many civil and criminal matters, but the councils varied considerably in decision-making styles and the number of matai involved in decisions.  The law recognizes the decisions of village councils and provides for limited appeal to the Lands and Titles Court.  The nature and severity of a dispute determines which court receives an appeal.Political Prisoners and DetaineesThere were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.Civil Judicial Procedures and RemediesIndividuals or organizations may generally seek civil remedies for human rights violations through the courts, although the Land and Titles Bill precludes civil and criminal courts from ruling on customary Land and Titles Court decisions.																																				f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The laws prohibit such actions, and there were no reports the national government failed to respect these prohibitions. There was little privacy in villages, where there could be substantial societal pressure on residents to grant village officials access to their homes without a warrant.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.  An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media.  The law stipulates imprisonment for any journalist who, despite a court order and a court finding that disclosure is in the public interest, refuses to reveal a confidential source.Freedom of Expression:  The law authorizes the Samoa Tourism Authority to file suit against any person who publishes what it judges to be false information that it deems prejudicial to the country’s reputation as a tourism destination.  Violators are subject to a fine or maximum imprisonment of three months if they fail to retract the information or to publish a correction when ordered to do so by the authority.  The authority did not exercise this power during the year.Libel/Slander Laws:  Libel may be prosecuted as a criminal offense.  Local media regarded the law as an obstacle to press freedom.  In July, an Australia-based Samoan radio broadcaster was arrested and charged by police in Samoa in connection with a libel complaint lodged by the ruling Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Samoa United by Faith in God) (FAST) party arising from the broadcaster’s comments during the 2021 political impasse.  In September, charges were dismissed by the District Court for lack of evidence.Internet FreedomThe government did not restrict access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provides for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. A Supreme Court ruling stipulates that village councils may not infringe upon villagers’ freedom of religion, speech, assembly, or association. Village councils, however, consistently ignored this ruling, including by banishing some residents from villages.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  &#8220;https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/&#8221;  &#8220;https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/&#8221; hhttps://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.In-country Movement: There were reports some village councils banished individuals or families from villages. In May media reported that a man charged with assaulting his pregnant wife was banished from the village of Toamua by the village council.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										There were no requests for asylum or refugee status, and the government had no interaction with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, whose regional representation is based in Canberra, or with other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees. Government officials were cooperative with several domestic and international human rights groups dealing with a variety of other matters.Access to Asylum: The law does not specify a process for granting refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. There were no requests for asylum or refugee status.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																																															The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																																				Elections and Political Participation										Recent Elections:Observers considered the April 2021 general election free and fair on the day, but post-election disputes and a resulting political impasse caused some observers to question the legitimacy of the electoral process. The election initially resulted in a tie, with the FAST party and the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) each initially winning 25 seats and an independent candidate winning one seat. The independent parliamentarian-elect opted to join FAST, which declared victory, while court decisions and resignations forced by-elections in six constituencies originally won by the HRPP. The HRPP accepted defeat after the Court of Appeal affirmed FAST’s victory in July 2021. The election ended the HRPP’s string of seven consecutive electoral victories, and Fiame Naomi Mata’afa became the country’s first woman prime minister. There were widespread reports of cash and noncash bribes paid during the campaign by both parties.Political Parties and Political Participation: The constitution gives all citizens older than age 21 the right to vote; however, only the more than 17,000 persons with a matai title, the chiefly leaders of extended families, may run for parliament or serve on village councils. Matai are appointed, not elected, to the councils. Although both men and women may become matai, most matai were men.In addition to the restrictions favoring matai, all candidates must satisfy a three-year period of monotaga (services rendered through participation and physical contributions) in their respective villages to be eligible to run. The government stated the law was to provide that candidates fulfilled cultural and other commitments to their village or church and could not just use their matai status or make large, last-minute contributions to their villages to garner votes. The monotaga requirement led to several court petitions and the disqualification of multiple candidates in 2021 deemed not to have met the requirement. The cases exposed deficiencies in the requirement since monotaga is poorly defined and can mean different types of service (or exemption from service for certain matai) in different villages. Some saw such subjective disqualifications as human rights abuses.Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit participation of women or members of historically marginalized or minority groups in the political process, and they did participate. The constitution mandates that at least 10 percent of parliamentarians be women, and the 53-seat parliament includes six women. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa became the country’s first woman prime minister in July 2021.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government												    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively.  The maximum penalty for corruption is 14 years’ imprisonment.  There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year, mostly involving candidates for parliament offering bribes in exchange for votes.  Officials infrequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.  The law provides for an ombudsman to investigate complaints against government agencies, officials, or employees, including allegations of corruption.  The ombudsman may require the government to provide information relating to a complaint.  The Attorney General’s Office prosecutes criminal corruption cases on behalf of the Public Service Commission.  The Ombudsman’s Office and the commission operated effectively.  The Ombudsman’s Office included academics and other members of civil society among the members of its commissions of inquiry.Corruption:  There was public discontent throughout the year at significant delays in the submission of annual audit reports to parliament and the lack of punitive action.  For example, state-owned Samoa Airways has failed to submit an annual report since 2019.																																					Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																																															Several domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.  Government officials were cooperative and responsive to their views.Government Human Rights Bodies:  Observers considered the Office of the Ombudsman generally effective and able to operate free from government or political party interference.  The government usually adopted its recommendations.  The Office of the Ombudsman also houses the National Human Rights Institute.																																					Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The constitution prohibits the abuse of women. Rape of women and men is a crime. The criminalization of “unlawful sexual connection” with another person without that person’s consent applies to spouses and is punishable by 14 years in prison. The courts treated rape seriously, and the conviction rate was high. The penalty for rape is up to life imprisonment, but no court has ever imposed a life sentence.When police received complaints from abused women, authorities generally investigated and charged the offender. Authorities charge domestic violence as common criminal assault, with a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Village councils typically punished domestic-violence offenders only if they considered the abuse extreme, such as when there were visible signs of physical harm. In the past few years, several villages have taken the extra step of incorporating specific fines into their village bylaws.The government acknowledged that rape and domestic abuse were of significant concern. The report National Public Inquiry into Family Violence, released by the government in 2018, revealed that 86 percent of women experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner, and that 24 percent had experienced choking. Many cases of rape and domestic abuse went unreported because societal attitudes discouraged such reporting and tolerated domestic abuse. Social pressure and fear of reprisal typically caused such abuse to go unreported.The Ministry of Police’s Domestic Violence Unit works in collaboration with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and focuses on combating domestic abuse. The Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration and the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, in collaboration with NGOs, carried out educational activities to address domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human rights awareness.Sexual Harassment: No law specifically punishes sexual harassment, although the law permits an employee who experiences harassment to break an employment contract. There were no reliable statistics on the incidence of sexual harassment. The lack of legislation and a cultural constraint against publicly shaming or accusing someone reportedly caused sexual harassment to be underreported. Victims had little incentive to report instances of sexual harassment, since doing so could jeopardize their career or family name.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.According to a 2019-2020 study released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF, and a 2020 report from the World Bank, while 86 percent of women ages 15-49 had knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, 39 percent of married women in that age cohort had an unmet need for contraception. The government worked with the NGO Samoa Victim Support Group to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence. Emergency contraception was available to survivors of sexual violence and to the general population.Discrimination: Women and men have equal rights under the constitution and statutory law, but traditional attitudes continued to consign some women to subordinate roles. Women faced discrimination including in interactions with police and in some judicial processes. The government generally enforced the law effectively.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution states that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law, and it bars discrimination on grounds of descent, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, place of birth, or family status. There were no reports of racial or ethnic violence during the year.Some villages, however, banned ownership by Chinese nationals of shops on village-owned land (more than 80 percent of the land in the country).																																				Children										Birth Registration: A child is a citizen by birth in the country if at least one parent is a citizen. The government also may grant citizenship by birth to a child born in the country if the child would otherwise be stateless. Citizenship also derives by birth abroad to a citizen parent who either was born in the country or resided there at least three years. By law children without a birth certificate may not attend primary schools, but authorities did not strictly enforce this law.Child Abuse: Law and tradition prohibit abuse of children, but both tolerate corporal punishment. The law prohibits corporal punishment in schools; a teacher convicted of corporal punishment of a student may face a maximum one-year prison term. In 2020 a school principal was convicted and fined for caning six students with a hose as punishment for the students’ posting pictures of themselves to social media wearing their school uniforms. Following the incident, the minister of education, sports, and culture publicly spoke out against corporal punishment.The government aggressively prosecuted reported cases of child abuse.The report National Public Inquiry into Family Violence, released in 2018, found that nine out of 10 children in the country experienced violence in their lifetime. Press reports indicated continued high levels of child abuse, especially of incest and indecent assault cases; the reports appeared to be due to citizens’ increased awareness of the importance of reporting physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children. In July, a man was jailed for 13 months after pleading guilty to sexually abusing his minor niece.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for both men and women. Consent of at least one parent or guardian is necessary if either party is younger than 21. Early marriage did not generally occur.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age for consensual sex is 16. Under the law the maximum penalty for sexual relations with children younger than age 12 is life imprisonment and for children between ages 12 and 15 the maximum penalty is 10 years’ imprisonment. The law contains a specific criminal provision regarding child pornography, and authorities generally enforced the law. The law specifies a maximum seven-year prison sentence for a person found guilty of publishing, distributing, or exhibiting indecent material featuring a child. Because 16 is the age of majority, the law does not protect persons ages 16 and 17.Although comprehensive data on the sexual abuse of children was not available, it remained a widespread problem, and the number of incidents reported by local media during the year remained high. In the 2018 report National Public Inquiry into Family Violence, nearly 10 percent of women respondents reported they were raped as children by a family member. Social pressure and fear of reprisal meant this number likely represented a significant underreporting.																																				Antisemitism										The country had a small Jewish community, and there were no known reports of antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in Samoa or that traffickers exploited victims from Samoa abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: “Sodomy” is illegal, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The law also prohibits renting, leasing, occupying, or managing any premises used for the commission of “indecent acts” between males, with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. Authorities did not enforce these provisions regarding consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults.Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons: There were no reports of acts of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.Discrimination: Although there were no reports of societal violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity, there were isolated cases of discrimination. The law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics; nor does it recognize LGBTQI+ individuals, couples, and their families. There are no hate crime or antigay propaganda laws, nor are there criminal justice mechanisms to aid in the prosecution of bias-motivated crimes against members of the LGBTQI+ community. Although society accepted the traditional Polynesian fa’afafine (transgender, nonbinary) community, which plays a prominent role in the country, members of the community reported instances of social discrimination.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There is no mechanism for legal gender recognition or changing one’s name or gender assigned at birth on official documents.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: Pathologization or treatment of sexual orientation by health care professionals was not reported. Other so-called conversion therapy practices and intersex normalization surgeries are not explicitly banned.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions on those speaking out about LGBTQI+ matters, such as so-called antigay propaganda laws, “hate speech” laws, and restrictions on the ability of LGBTQI+ organizations to legally register or convene events such as Pride festivities.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities were unable to access education, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis with others. Government information and communication on disability concerns was not provided in accessible formats.While no law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in the provision of public services, the law does prohibit disability-based discrimination in employment. There were no reports of violence, harassment, intimidation, or abuses against persons with disabilities.Most public buildings were accessible to persons with disabilities.Some children with disabilities attended regular public schools, while others attended one of at least three schools in the capital created specifically to educate students with disabilities.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law protects the rights of workers to form and join independent unions and collectively bargain. The law provides for the right of private-sector workers to conduct legal strikes. The law states that a public-sector employee who engages in a strike or any other industrial action is considered “dismissed from [their] employment.” The law prohibits antiunion discrimination such as contract conditions that restrict freedom of association. The law addresses a range of fundamental rights and includes the establishment of a national tripartite forum that serves as the governing body for labor and employment matters in the country.The government effectively enforced laws on unionization, and the government generally respected freedom of association. Penalties were commensurate with those under other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. Penalties were regularly applied against violators. The Public Service Association functioned as a union for all government workers. Unions generally conducted their activities free from government interference.Workers exercised the right to organize and bargain collectively. The Public Service Association engaged in collective bargaining on behalf of government workers, including on wages. Arbitration and mediation procedures were in place to resolve labor disputes, although such disputes rarely arose.There were no reports of strikes.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor, and the government generally enforced such laws. There is an exception in the constitution for service required by local custom. A key feature of the matai system is that non-matai men perform work in their village in service to their families, church, or the village. The matai may compel those who do not wish to work, including children.In 2020 the International Labor Organization noted that the law empowers fono a matai (village councils) to order any person to undertake work to develop village land for the economic betterment of the village, including as a form of punishment.In 2020 the International Labor Organization noted that the law provides for the possibility of imprisonment involving forced labor for “a person who uses or speaks words, or publishes anything, with the intention of, inter alia, undermining the authority of the Government of Samoa or changing any matter affecting the laws, Government, or Constitution or any religious observance of Samoa, in circumstances where there is a present risk of lawlessness and disorder.”The government effectively enforced the law. Aside from the cultural exception noted above and street vending by children, forced labor was not considered a problem. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor (Labor Ministry) received no complaints and found no violations of forced labor law during inspections conducted of workplaces.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  &#8220;https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings&#8221;  &#8220;https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings&#8221; hhttps://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings.																																				d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation										The law prohibits discrimination, direct or indirect, against an employee or an applicant for employment based on ethnicity, race, color, sex, gender, religion, political opinion, national extraction, social origin, marital status, pregnancy, family responsibilities, real or perceived HIV status, and disability. Discrimination based on age is not explicitly prohibited but may be barred by general language prohibiting discrimination on any arbitrary grounds.The government effectively enforced the law, and penalties were commensurate with those under laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. The Labor Ministry received complaints regarding unfair hiring practices during the year. No cases drew public attention. Penalties were rarely applied against violators.																																				e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: There were separate minimum wage scales for the private and public sectors. Both minimum wages were below the official estimate of the poverty income level for a household.The law covers private-sector and public-sector workers differently. For the private sector, the law specifies overtime pay at time and a half, with double time for work on Sunday and public holidays. For some parts of the public sector, there is no paid overtime, but authorities give compensatory time off for overtime work.Occupational Safety and Health: The law establishes certain rudimentary occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for workplaces that the Labor Ministry is responsible for enforcing. The law also covers nonworkers who are lawfully on the premises or within the workplace during work hours. The law contains provisions for the identification and assessment of, and risk control for, workplace hazards and hazardous substances. The commissioner of labor investigates reported cases of hazardous workplaces. OSH experts actively identified unsafe conditions, including lack of personal protective equipment against COVID-19 in addition to responding to workers’ OSH complaints. Workers are legally able to remove themselves from situations that endanger health or safety without jeopardy to their employment.OSH laws do not generally apply to agricultural service rendered to the matai or work in a family enterprise. Government employees have coverage under different and more stringent regulations, which the Public Service Commission enforced adequately.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The Labor Ministry is responsible for enforcement of wage and hour laws. The government generally enforced wage laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. The number of inspectors was not sufficient to fully enforce compliance.The Labor Ministry enforced OSH laws. It investigated work accidents when it received reports. The number of inspectors was generally sufficient to deter violations. Inspectors were able to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. Penalties for violations of OSH laws were commensurate with those for crimes like negligence. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators.Many agricultural workers had inadequate protection from pesticides and other dangers to health. Government education and awareness programs sought to address these concerns by providing appropriate training and equipment to some agricultural workers.The Labor Ministry investigated any potential labor law violations in response to complaints. The police and education ministries may assist if needed; the Public Service Commission handled all government labor matters.Informal Sector: Approximately 75 percent of the working population worked in the subsistence economy and had no formal employment. The informal economy included small-scale trading, market vending, fishing, and agriculture. Informal workers were legally covered by labor laws and were eligible for social support including the country’s pension system.																																				    							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- Governance of the Seas: Assistance to Pacific Island Partners Bureau of Political-Military AffairsOffice of Global Programs and InitiativesBex Melvin and Luke HanstedtOn September 28-29, 2022, representatives of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Nauru, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of Vanuatu, and the United States will gather in Washington D.C. for the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Islands Summit.  The Summit, which will be hosted by President Biden, will “demonstrate the United States’ deep and enduring partnership with the Pacific Islands and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values, and people-to-people ties.”   The Summit will also offer opportunities to touch upon key issues such as climate change and the effects of natural disasters, how to safeguard the Blue Pacific Ocean and its resources, and ways to promote inclusive economic opportunity while ensuring peace and security.  The Summit will reinforce U.S. and Pacific Islands efforts to implement our respective guiding documents, including the Pacific Island Forum 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promotes a free, open, transparent, prosperous, and resilient Pacific region.  Maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region is vital to the economic prosperity and security of the United States and regional partners.   Indo-Pacific Challenges  Unfortunately, the Indo-Pacific region faces mounting challenges, including climate change, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and illegal research activities in island nations’ exclusive economic zones, as well as predatory economic investments that undermine democratic governance and enable corruption and human rights abuses.  Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Activities:  The legal regime reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides for an EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles from coastal baselines, within which the coastal state has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing both living and non-living natural resources.  Bad actors are increasingly conducting activities in EEZs that are inconsistent with such sovereign rights, including interference with resource exploitation, IUU fishing, and conducting marine scientific research without coastal state consent. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing:  According to President Biden’s National Security Memorandum on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses, IUU fishing and related harmful fishing practices are among the greatest threat to ocean health and contribute to the collapse or decline of fisheries that are critical to the economic growth, food systems, and ecosystems of numerous Pacific Island nations.  These practices undermine the sustainability of fish stocks, circumvent conservation and management measures, and often go hand in hand with the use of forced labor and other illicit activities.   Climate Change:  Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being of people in the Pacific, as stated in the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Boe Declaration on Regional Security.  Climate change is growing ever-more severe as glaciers melt, and the Pacific Islands battle rising sea levels.  How the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Helps to Promote “Governance of the Seas” Considering the strategic context and challenges mentioned above, and in support of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Political-Military Affairs Bureau seeks to improve maritime governance and institutional capacity in the Indo-Pacific region.  The Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) is one tool for the United States to promote collective action in addressing these challenges unique to the Indo-Pacific in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities and international law.  Through GDRP, the Bureau provides several Pacific Island countries with regular advisory assistance to strengthen institutions to address our shared maritime security objectives, increase cooperation, and reinforce that the United States is a steadfast and reliable security partner in the region.  GDRP advisors coordinate closely with advisors from Australia, Japan, and other partner countries to promote an open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure Indo-Pacific.   In the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Marshall Islands, GDRP aims to increase these nations’ ability to detect and counter illicit activities in their respective exclusive economic zones enhancing partner nations’ maritime domain awareness and by enhancing coordination and cooperation between law enforcement and the justice sector.  GDRP also provides advisory support to Vanuatu to assist in strengthening maritime security institutions and capabilities, in support of Vanuatu’s National Security Strategy.  The Bureau&#8217;s advisory support has enabled Vanuatu to improve the maritime domain awareness tools and procedures it uses to monitor its exclusive economic zone. GDRP advisors have also helped the Government of Palau to improve maritime governance and maritime domain awareness.  GDRP has assisted Palau with improving maritime governance and maritime security capacity through better monitoring and surveillance of Palau’s exclusive economic zones, and by identifying and countering illicit activities such as IUU fishing.  In support of expanding Palau’s relationships in the region, the Political-Military Affairs Bureau has worked side-by-side with Palau to engage with counterparts in the Philippines to share best practices, explore joint operations opportunities, and share experiences amongst maritime domain awareness specialists.  These efforts will strengthen Palau’s maritime security by increasing its capacity to monitor Palau’s exclusive economic zone and detect and interdict vessels engaged in unlawful activity, while also benefitting the government of the Philippines through improved awareness and monitoring capabilities in the Philippine Sea. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Global Programs and Initiatives manages the Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) that seeks to enhance security sector governance and institutional capacity.  Since the inception of the GDRP Program in 2018, the Bureau&#8217;s consultative and partnership-based approach to institution capacity-building has increased local ownership and sustainability of program objectives.  GDRP advisory assistance around the world continues to promote processes to mitigate the risk of corruption and enhance transparency within the security sector.  Thadvocacy of good practices in security sector governance advances U.S. national security and shared interests, and promotes the alliances and partnerships needed to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive geopolitical environment. About the Authors: Bex Melvin and Luke Hanstedt serve as portfolio managers in the Political-Military Affairs Bureau’s Office of Global Programs and Initiatives.  
- Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Office of the SpokespersonThe below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met yesterday with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa at the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The Deputy Secretary and the Prime Minister discussed U.S.-Samoa cooperation and the Deputy Secretary’s recent trip to the region in August, where the two first met.  They also highlighted the importance of strengthening ties and support for the Pacific Islands Forum.