Samoa is committed to trade liberalization at the regional, bilateral and multilateral level. We are also currently acceding to WTO membership, tentatively by the end of 2011

in Force

• Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER)
• Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA)

Anticipated

• African-Caribbean-Pacific – European Union Economic Partnership Agreements (ACP-EU EPA)

EPA negotiations have yet to be concluded between the Pacific ACP States (PACPs) and the EU, except for Fiji and Papua New Guinea whom initialed interim EPAs with EU in 2007 and signed in 2009.  The EPA should not only provide trading opportunities in priority sectors of each PACP, but also have a strong developmental focus. Negotiations for a comprehensive PACP-EU EPA are currently ongoing.

•  Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement – Trade in Services (PICTA TiS)

PICTA, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among the Forum Island Countries (FICs) that excludes Australia and New Zealand, currently covers trade in goods only. Following an initial assessment on the cost and benefit of extending the FTA among FICs to include trade in services, the Forum Trade Ministers in 2001 endorsed in principle the integration of services into the PICTA, based on a gradual, flexible approach, with sufficient transition periods where appropriate.

The FICs, under PICTA trade in Services, are also negotiating the facilitation of
temporary movement of natural persons within the FICs. Individuals from FICs who possess one of the qualifications listed in the Agreement would be given automatic right to unrestricted entry to the territory of other Parties to the Agreement for a defined period. The Agreement will contain a list of qualifications for skilled and semi-skilled professions that would be subject to freer movement within the FICs.

• World Trade Organization (WTO) Accession

The main aim of the WTO is to provide a forum for trade negotiations through the administration of WTO agreements; monitoring national trade policy; co-operating with other international organizations; providing technical assistance and training for developing countries.

Samoa’s decision to become a member of the WTO is in line with government reforms and complements our forward-looking economic policy decisions. Our WTO membership will improve our capacity within the multilateral trading system.

Whether we become a member of the WTO or not, trade policies and decisions at the global level are and will continue to be affected by the rules of the WTO.

General Information on Trading Arrangements

MFAT’s Trade Division performs regular research and produces Market Access information to facilitate Samoan exports to overseas markets. This page contains Rules of Origin for bilateral and regional trade arrangements, and preferential schemes for Samoa as a Least Developed Country (LDC).

Information contained in this publication is correct at the time of printing.

• Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA)

• South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)
• SPARTECA TCF (Textiles, Clothing, Footwear)
• Generalised System of Preferences (GSPs)
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• USA
• Japan
• European Union
• India
• China Zero-Tariff Treatment Scheme
• Republic of Korea

• Anticipated Trading Arrangements
• ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) 
• Pacific Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus
• Samoa’s WTO Accession

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Exporters’ Information
Discover and get in touch with exporters in Samoa. Here are some of the Ministry’s active exporting contacts and their details.

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