Tuna concern
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
AMERICAN Samoa is concerned over the possible elimination of US quotas and redtictions in tariffs on water packed tuna in cans. American Samoa is the site of two large tuna canneries which, together with the fleet which operates out of the main town, Pagopa go, are a substantial contributor to the territory’s economy. Tuna accounts for 99 per cent of American Samoa’s exports and employs about 4700 people, or 40 per cent of the total workforce.
Governor Peter Tali Coleman became
alarmed by reports that Thailand had requested the duty and tariff cuts, as American Samoa being an internal territory has free access to the US mainland market. Coleman has sent sub missions to the Department of Com
merce and appropriate Congressional
committees in Washington. In his letter, the territory’s Governor said these ac tions “would have a serious, adverse im pact on the ability of the two canneries in American Samoa to compete in the mainland US market.”