Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with ambassadors and representatives from several Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The meeting focused on relations between the United States and Pacific Island countries.
During the discussion, Deputy Secretary Landau announced that the United States will release $60 million to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. This funding is part of a 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement linked to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. The treaty permits U.S.-flagged vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of 16 Pacific Island countries. According to the State Department, this arrangement generates hundreds of millions per year in gross revenue for the U.S. economy.
The Deputy Secretary and the Ambassadors also addressed ways to increase involvement by U.S. private sector companies in order to support prosperity throughout the region.
"The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with the Pacific Islands Ambassadors and Representatives of Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu today to discuss U.S.-Pacific Islands relations. The Deputy announced the United States is releasing $60 million to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency as part of a 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which allows U.S.-flagged vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of 16 Pacific Island countries, generating hundreds of millions per year in gross revenue for the U.S. economy. The Deputy Secretary and the Ambassadors also discussed greater involvement of the U.S. private sector to promote prosperity for all."
