14 Feb 2019

American Samoa, Guam, Samoa added to EU blacklist

2:39 pm on 14 February 2019

American Samoa, Guam and Samoa have been added to a new EU blacklist on money-laundering and terrorism financing.

Flags outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels

Photo: 123rf

The European Commission said on Wednesday the countries, and 20 others on the list, have strategic deficiencies when dealing with suspicious money flows.

Věra Jourová, a Commissioner with the body, said it stands ready to work closely with the countries to address the issues.

In a statement, the US Treasury Department rejected the inclusion of American Samoa and Guam, along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

It said the review process was flawed and little warning was given to the countries and no opportunity to respond.