Page 6 - IB April 2025

Briefs Briefs

American Samoa Fiji
Ten residents born in American Samoa have been charged with Fiji’s kava exporters may face challenges after the United
voter misconduct by the state of Alaska, accused of illegally States announced a 32% tariff on all imports from the
voting in recent elections despite being American nationals, country, effective April 9. While that announced rise has
not citizens. The charges follow a similar 2023 case involving been paused for review, concerns remain. The US is Fiji’s
Tupe Smith, who won a school board seat before being largest kava market, with two-thirds of exports headed
prosecuted. These prosecutions are believed to be the first of there. Fiji’s Ministry of Finance has criticised the tariff as
their kind based solely on American Samoan birth. Court dates disproportionate, noting that 96% of US imports to Fiji face
for the 10 accused have been set. lower duties.

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands French Polynesia
Twenty-nine resident species are now protected under the French Polynesia’s President Moetai Brotherson has issued
US Endangered Species Act. The species include bats, birds, a strong rejection of deep-sea mining, declaring it will
turtles, reptiles, invertebrates, and rare plants across Saipan, be allowed in his territory “over my dead body.” In an
Tinian, and Rota. interview with The Guardian, Brotherson warned that the
environmental risks far outweigh any potential benefits,
saying, “We’re playing gods with the cradle of life.” His
Cook Islands comments come amid a growing regional and global debate
A parliamentary report on a proposed constitutional over whether to allow the extraction of minerals from the
amendment to declare the Cook Islands a Christian state will ocean floor.
be tabled in Parliament when it resumes on 21 May. The Cook
Islands Christian Movement (CICM), a key advocate for the
proposal, expressed concern the Committee may recommend Guam
a compromise - acknowledging Christian heritage without Guam’s exemption from US tariffs could see the island
amending the Constitution.
become a transhipping hub, but former US delegate Robert
Underwood warns that the loophole won’t last if exploited. As
Guam lies outside the US customs zone, imports there avoid
Federated States of Micronesia federal tariffs. However, Underwood said, “If [goods] are
The Yap State Court in the Federated States of Micronesia transhipped to the US to avoid tariffs... the US government
has proposed requiring bar candidates to pass an exam on will shut that down.” He added that while the exemption
Yapese traditional and customary laws to practice law in the aims to benefit tourists, rising tariffs—especially against
state. The proposed exam, which is still under development, China—will drive up Guam’s already high cost of living.
would complement the FSM’s regular bar exam. While the
FSM generally follows Western legal systems, past court
decisions have integrated cultural traditions, recognising the
importance of customary law in certain legal contexts. Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands has formally signed the Rarotonga Treaty.
The Treaty was set up in August 1985, and its purpose is
to prohibit the manufacturing, possession, stationing, and
testing of nuclear explosive devices in the South Pacific.

6 Islands Business, April 2025