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North Mariana Islands 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

North Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States. Information for the United States may be included below:

FATF status

The U.S.A. is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

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

The North Mariana Islands, in political union with the United States, indicates that corruption is not a significant risk for foreign investors in the US, where it is not seen as an obstacle to business operations. While the US market is competitive and offers numerous opportunities, companies must navigate a complex bureaucracy and comply with extensive anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The government actively enforces these laws, which prohibit various forms of corruption, and while facilitation payments and small gifts are allowed under certain conditions, they may still violate other regulations.

Economy

The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands is heavily dependent on tourism and garment manufacturing, with substantial support from the U.S. federal government. Following the closure of garment factories in 2009 and a decline in tourism due to the end of direct flights from Japan, the economy has faced significant challenges, while agricultural production remains minimal, contributing only 1.7% to GDP.

The investment climate in the Northern Mariana Islands benefits from its political union with the United States, providing a stable legal framework, although it also imposes limitations on certain economic activities. There are opportunities for investment, particularly in tourism and agriculture, but potential investors must navigate local regulations and federal policies affecting labor and immigration. The government is actively seeking to attract foreign investment to revitalize the economy, especially as tourism begins to recover.

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  • Key Findings
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