The American Samoa House of Representatives has rejected a Senate bill that would have imposed a 20 percent import duty on white meat tuna off-loaded in Pago Pago from foreign vessels.
House members say that imposing such a tax would prevent foreign vessels from supplying the US territory's two tuna canneries and this could devastate the economy.
Cannery officials were at the House chamber to lobby when lawmakers handed down their unanimous vote, defeating the measure during its second reading.
Similar bills passed by the Senate in the last three years have also failed to make it through the House.
