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American Samoa Country Summary

Sanctions

No

FATF AML Deficient List

No

Terrorism
Corruption
US State ML Assessment
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
EU Tax Blacklist
Offshore Finance Center

Please note that although the below Summary will give a general outline of the AML risks associated with the jurisdiction, if you are a Regulated entity then you may need to demonstrate that your Jurisdictional AML risk assessment has included a full assessment of the risk elements that have been identified as underpinning overall Country AML risk. To satisfy these requirements, we would recommend that you use our Subscription area.

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Anti Money Laundering

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Information for the United States may be included below:

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

American Samoa falls within the jurisdiction of the USA with regard to the Mutual Evaluation Report.

The latest follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in the USA was undertaken by in 2024. According to that Evaluation, the USA was deemed Compliant for 9 and Largely Compliant for 23 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 4 and Substantially Effective for 4 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.

Sanctions

There are no international sanctions currently in force against this country

Bribery & Corruption

Rating 0 (bad) - 100 (good)
Transparency International Corruption Index 69
World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank 83

American Samoa, as an unincorporated territory of the United States, aligns with the US's business environment where corruption is not seen as a significant risk for foreign investors. While the US presents a competitive market with numerous opportunities, businesses must navigate a complex regulatory landscape due to various levels of governance and stringent anti-corruption laws. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is actively enforced, and companies should be cautious with gifts and facilitation payments, as they could violate other anti-corruption regulations.

Economy

American Samoa's economy is primarily driven by tourism, tuna canning, and government services, heavily reliant on federal funding. The GDP was estimated at $709 million in 2020, with a per capita GDP of $11,200, while the tuna canning industry faces challenges due to competition and wage law changes, contributing to historically high unemployment rates.

The investment climate in American Samoa is shaped by its status as a U.S. territory, which provides some stability but also imposes limitations on economic freedoms. Investors encounter challenges such as a small market size, dependence on federal funding, and inadequate infrastructure for tourism development. However, the territory's strategic location and cultural heritage present opportunities for niche tourism and sustainable development, with the local government aiming to create a more favorable business environment.

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  • Risk Analysis
  • Corruption
  • Economy
  • Sanctions
  • Narcotics
  • Executive Summaries
  • Investment Climates
  • FATF Status
  • Compliance
  • Key Findings
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