An American Samoa delegation travelling to Washington to seek US President Barack Obama's help was unable to get an audience with him.
The delegation made the trip to ask for Mr Obama's help in reversing local minimum wage increases, which they say is hurting their economy with one cannery already having closed down.
However they met with the president's senior adviser for governmental affairs and public liaison, Valerie Jarrette.
The territory's chamber of commerce president David Robinson says the petition was given to Ms Jarrett who assured that she would give it to the president.
