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(...) During the review period, the Government implemented the Solomon Islands Sustainable Energy Project (SISEP), which aimed at improving the operational efficiency, system reliability and financial sustainability of the SIEA (Solomon Islands Electricity Authority). The project has contributed to the financial turn-around of the SIEA. The company has recovered from a situation of recurrent operating losses (of up to 30% of total operating revenue in 2007) to one of profit-making since 2011. The project has also contributed to reducing losses, improving power reliability in Honiara, and increasing revenue collection. In 2014, the World Bank provided US$13 million in additional financing, to further strengthen the capacity of the main power grid. In May 2016, a 1-MW solar farm was constructed to supplement the generation capacity of Honiara.

Plans to increase generation capacity include the Tina River Hydropower Development Project, and a geothermal resource-based project on Savo Island (about 35 km offshore from Honiara). The Tina River Hydropower Development Project involves the construction of a 20 MW run-of-the-river hydropower facility to supply electricity to the capital city of Honiara. The facility is to be developed on a build-own-operate-transfer basis by an independent power producer. The producer will sell the power to SIEA under a power purchase agreement.

Electricity supplied by SIEA is not subject to the sales tax. Since 2010, imported solar equipment is exempted from import duty and goods tax, with a view to supporting clean energy development.

Travel and tourism's contribution (including indirect and induced contributions) to the economy of Solomon Islands was estimated at about 10.7% of GDP in 2014, according to estimates from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Solomon Islands is known for its high level of biodiversity. (...)

The sector has potential in terms of future employment and growth and there seems to be high-level policy recognition of its place in national sustainable development. (...)

In addition to supporting the expansion of WTO Membership and playing a proactive role in market-opening negotiations, including the plurilateral Environmental Goods Agreement, the United States will continue to promote and strengthen the WTO's existing core functions. (...)

(...) The United States remains committed to working with its trading partners to create a global trading system in which markets are open, intellectual property is protected, innovation is promoted, electronic commerce and the global digital economy grow, agricultural and industrial regulations are based on science, transparent rules and regulations are applied without discrimination, and high environmental and labor standards are respected.

Looking at the historical record, it is clear that while trade alone cannot solve every development challenge, open markets are a necessary part of any successful and sustainable development strategy. Thus, the U.S. trade agenda brings traditional policy tools into the 21st century and offers a more comprehensive look at development. (...)

Support for the United States' active trade agenda – including for bilateral and regional trade agreements as well as U.S. participation in the WTO – has been built through constant coordination with Congress and extensive outreach to U.S. industry leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers, small business owners, workers, state and local government officials, and advocates for labor rights, environmental protection, and public health, among other issues. (...)

As a result, the Administration has sought to broaden opportunities for public input and increased transparency of trade policy. USTR works to ensure that timely trade information is available to the public and disseminated widely to stakeholders. This has been accomplished in part via (...) ; increased outreach and engagement with a broad array of stakeholders, including (...) environmental organizations, (...)