Lydia
Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin
Editor
Elena Pasilio*
Tokelau
The initial reaction from Tokelauans to
President Donald Trump’s tariffs of surprise and laughter
has turned to sadness.
“I’m very surprised,” Council
for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau general manager
(national) Aukusitino Vitale told RNZ Pacific.
Vitale,
almost lost for words, said there is really not a lot to say
but, “we don’t export to the USA”.
He is dumbfounded
as to why small Pacific Islands nations, like Fiji that has
a 32 percent tariff to its name and does export to the US,
have been slammed.
“We are small Pacific Island
countries, and I’m finding it really difficult to understand
what threat the Pacific is to US economy,” Vitale
said.
“We are kind of saddened because the most
important thing is to assist Tokelau, being a very small
nation”.
The irony of Trump taxing Tokelau is that it
is not even an independent country.
It is a dependent
territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean,
whose 1500 or so residents are New Zealand
citizens.
However, they have not been spared by
Trump’s tariffs list alongside New Zealand.
Tokelau is
in the process of taking strides towards wider public
consultation about self-determination.
It is unlikely
to be about full independence, but possibly a form of
greater autonomy, which New Zealand’s realm nations, Niue
and Cook Islands already have.
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A big part of that
process is bolstering infrastructure and strengthening
governance models, all of which rely on funding from New
Zealand and the money Tokelau gets from the South Pacific
Tuna Treaty.
Tariffs and tuna
It is not just a
10 percent tariff causing concern in Tokelau, but it is
waiting on its share of millions in funds as part of the
South Pacific Tuna Treaty which Tokelau is party
to.
“We rely heavily on our tuna fishing [funds from
the US],” Vitale said about the deal between the United
States and 16 Pacific Island countries.
The treaty
allows the US to go fishing for tuna in Tokelau’s 200
nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“If they
understood what Tokelau is, the size in terms of its
infrastructure, and it is just this unique place in the
world.
“I would have thought that they would have been
more keen, I mean, US$4.2 million [in tuna licensing to
Tokelau] to them…is that a lot of money?”
That’s
millions in outstanding money for not only Tokelau but other
Pacific nations as part of the Tuna treaty deal.
While
Tokelau waits on the US, New Zealand has given an advance or
place holder payment to Tokelau.
“Of course, it’s in
advance, and also it’s a payback arrangement. Our
understanding from New Zealand is that this review [on US
aid] is continuing until the end of April.”
“So ko te
tulaga la kua pa kiei koi fai lava a latou iloiloga, pe
fakamatuku mai te vaega tena pe ko afea foki te fakamatuku
mai ai, ma e he maua ai la te vaega tena mo Tokelau ite
taimi teia e manakomia ai e ia (So at the moment, America
is still having ongoing talks to determine if and when the
delayed payments will be released, which makes it unlikely
that Tokelau will receive the funds in time),” Vitale
told Tokelauns in a video address.
“Kae i te fakaaliga
a NZ kua fehoahoani mai foki kilatou e tuha ai ki he totogi
ki mua ni o te vaega heleni tena, kafai la e pa mai te
heleni oi kua toe fakatumu atu ai la te pu tena na kaumai ai
te heleni tena mo te fakatinoga o te tatou galuega mo na
fakatupega i te agai ki mua (New Zealand has notified
Tokelau that it will front/advance the payment owed by
America to Tokelau, and will reclaim the amount once
America’s payment is received and this is to help Tokelau
get their funds in order for upcoming work
plans)“
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018982137/trump-places-10-percent-tariff-on-tokelau
He
told RNZ Pacific that it seems the US is not putting effort
into the right places.
“I think Tokelau has been
included because it’s a country on the map,” Vitale
said.
“But I doubt they did their research as to what
importation was coming from Tokelau.”
Tokelau
self-determination
While Tokelau waits on money from
the US, it looks to progress self-determination community
consultations.
Tokelau is controlled more by Aotearoa
than Cook Islands and Niue which hold a ‘self-governing’
status.
Tokelauans hold NZ passports, use the NZ
dollar and have their own unique political system where the
Ulu, or head of government, is rotated annually to make sure
each atoll has a turn at the helm during the three Faipule’s
three year terms.
The role is equivalent to the Prime
Minister, Vitale said.
Community members have voted
against becoming self-governing in free association twice:
in 2006 and another the year after.
A special
committee is being set up in Tokelau to make sure everyone
is well informed ahead of a potential
third referendum.
“A special committee, to collect
all the information, details on the type of choice that
Tokelau would like need, because this information is key to
explain to the people whether the advantages and
disadvantages of this choice,” former Ulu-o-Tokelau or Head
of Government, Alapati Tavite told RNZ Pacific in
2024.
Communities will have the opportunity to
understand the potential options through community
consultation run by a committee which has not yet been
finalised.
Tavite said that once the consultation
period which will educate the communities on the UN models
is complete, “the people will decide” if they are ready for
another referendum.
*Elena Pasilio is Nukunonu’s
environment officer in
Tokelau.
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