The American Samoa governor says the recent deal between an American fisheries company and Samoa is threatening the financial viability of the territory's two canneries.
Bumble Bee and the Samoa government have signed a memoraundum of understanding that paves the way for the US cannery to set up a loining plant at Matautu wharf.
Governor Lolo says as a result of the MOU, the competitive advantage of American Samoa's StarKist and Tri Marine canneries will be compromised, because Bumble Bee will be free to offer wages below the US federal minimum.
He says Bumble Bee will also be exempt from the rules that other federal regulatory agencies impose the territory's two operators.
