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As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Pacific, (...)subject to (...)the negative impacts of climate change, it is important for Samoa to engage in an open, rules-based and predictable international trade regime. This is vital for its economic development, the wellbeing of its population, as well as for its resilience to environmental shocks. (...)

Samoa maintains several import restrictions and prohibitions for health, safety or environmental reasons or to meet its international obligations. (...)

(...)Exports of logs and timber, sea cucumbers, and live corals are prohibited for environmental reasons. (...)

(...)A new technical regulation on energy-efficiency standards came into force in 2018. (..)

(...)Government support has been mainly in the form of Green Box general services and input subsidies to subsistence farmers (such as seeds and planting material), and also in response to natural disasters. (...)

Samoa is in the process of implementing the "Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2016/17–2019/20. It is Samoa's eighth overarching development plan, which sets out the Government's priorities and objectives in four areas (economic, social, infrastructure and environment), which are implemented through 14 sector plans.(...)

Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA)
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Negotiations of a PICTA trade in services protocol were concluded in 2012. The protocol has been signed by 10 Forum Island Countries, with four ratifications completed to date, by Samoa, Tuvalu, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Nauru. It will enter into force once six countries have ratified the Agreement. Samoa's services commitments cover the following sectors: professional services, financial services, telecommunications, construction, education, environmental services, (...)

(...) Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Union, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. According to the authorities, Samoa has excluded from liberalisation under this agreement about 20% of its trade with the EU, based on health, production, environmental, development and revenue interests.

(...)the following business activities are prohibited under the Business Licence Act, 1998, for domestic and foreign enterprises alike: nuclear and toxic waste disposal or storage; (...)the processing and export of endangered species; (...)

In 2016, Samoa adopted the new Citizen Investment Act, that offers Samoan citizenship as an incentive for foreign investment. Qualifying investments must be in the area of: (...)renewable energy generation; (...)