THE “GREAT WALL” OF CHINA…

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa News has obtained photos of the 32 vehicles imported directly from China that have been sitting on the dock, after being seized by the Customs Division of Treasurer in July 2025. At the time, they were given 30 calendar days to file a complaint or appeal with the High Court of American Samoa if they wish to contest the seizure.

No information has been forthcoming from the government identifying the names of the consignees or importers.

In May 2025 a letter was sent to the Governor from the Commissioner of Public Safety concerning vehicles being imported directly from China and Korea identifying Asian owned businesses in general. He pointed out that these businesses are not authorized car dealerships.

The issue of the 32 impounded vehicles was raised during a Senate Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety hearing held last Wednesday, July 30, 2025, chaired by Senator Olo Uluao Letuli.

Witnesses included the Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili- Langkilde the Chief of Customs Iuliano Falaniko, DPS Commissioner Taaga Saite Moliga and Treasurer Donald Kruse.

The hearing focused on the report by the Samoa Observer that Samoa police believed that amphetamines (aisa) were coming through American Samoa to Samoa. However, due to the Senate president raising the issue of rental cars in a previous Senate session, a report from the Police Commissioner was included as to the status of rental cars in the territory which in turn raised questions about the 32 Customs’ impounded vehicles.

The Commissioner’s report stated there are 368 rental cars registered on island by: one owner, 2- 3 owners, and car rental businesses.

The Chief of Customs was asked how the vehicles got into the Territory, which he replied that it’s a new focus by Customs. The focus happened after they noticed a pattern of vehicles coming in directly from China. He said they meet US EPA emission requirements and its standard that if US accepted, then the Territory usually accepts too. However, then they looked at safety requirements.

The Attorney General said they are currently awaiting a reply from the US Department of Justice concerning the vehicles’ VIN numbers, and the Treasurer noted that they are also waiting for a decision from the US Department of Transportation about the impounded vehicles — looking at the certification of manufacture as well as importation, and looking at their safety requirements..

The Treasurer first explained why he had impounded the vehicles from China in a July release, saying that enforcement was being carried out pursuant to provisions in the American Samoa Code Annotated, which authorized the use of federal regulatory frameworks in the absence of specific territorial provisions.

According to Kruse, the vehicles were flagged for a variety of infractions: Unregistered manufacturer; Missing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards certification label; Invalid or non-decodable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); Absence of Department of Transportation (DOT) declaration; and, Unauthorized importation outside of Registered Importer (RI) protocols.

The Treasurer in particular pointed to the importation of these vehicles as raising concerns of national security. “These imports correspond with rising Asian-owned commercial activity within the territory,” he noted.

Kruse also said that only federally registered importers are permitted to import vehicles requiring conformity modification. Independent Commercial Importers must obtain a certificate of conformity for each configuration prior to importation.

He pointed out that “any prior non action reflects a lapse in execution, not in legal authority.”

Senator Tuanaitau Malaki Togiola asked the AG about storage fees for the impounded vehicles, which she did not directly answer. However, in his explanation about the impounded vehicles, in July, the Treasurer said all costs related to the return of the vehicles are the sole responsibility of the importers. (Samoa News assumes storage fees are included in the importers’ responsibility.)

Of interest, Senator Togiola Tulafono asked about President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods — if they would be applied to these vehicles if they receive the okay to be imported to the Territory. The Treasurer replied that US tariffs do not apply to American Samoa as the Territory controls its own borders. Togiola recommended that the American Samoa apply its own tariff to the vehicles — 200% — he said it would help fund the shortfall owed by ASG to the Retirement Fund. Kruse seemed to like the idea.

From the photos Samoa News obtained the manufacturer’s acronym can be seen on the right — GWM — and on the left, the vehicle is a “GreatWall”.

GWM, according to wikipedia is the acronym for the Great Wall Motor Company Limited, a Chinese automotive manufacturer, headquartered in Baoding, Hebei, China.

“Named after the Great Wall of China, … It is one of the top ten Chinese automobile manufacturers, with 1.23 million vehicles sold globally in 2024.”

Founded in 1984, and partly owned by local government in Hebei, it was privatized in 1998 and went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2003.

“The company manufactures and sells vehicles under multiple brands, including GWM, Haval, Wey, Tank, Poer, and Ora.

“Since 2019, GWM has also operated a joint venture with BMW Group to produce electric Mini vehicles in China, under the name Spotlight Automotive.