Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a press release, dated November 19, 2025, the American Samoa Government (ASG) announced that the ASG Customs Division is auctioning “for export only” the 47 vehicles imported from China which were seized for failing to meet the US Transportation and safety regulations. The bid auction will in all probability finally conclude the public saga of the ‘illegal imported’ vehicles that has been the focus of Senate and House hearings, as well as concern in the business community.

The bid auction was held yesterday, Monday, November 24, 2025.

The vehicle bid auction caveat — “for export only” — means that it will only sell to persons/ entities that will export the vehicles as “the vehicles do not comply with the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which apply in American Samoa as a U.S. federally funded jurisdiction, they cannot be operated, registered, or used on American Samoa roads or any roadway within the U.S.”

The ASG press release cites the American Samoa Code, as providing the legal base for the vehicle bid auction — “…if the consignee fails to file a claim in the High Court, under ASCA § 27.1042(c) the vehicle will be deemed forfeited and ownership transferred to the American Samoa Government.”

The press release continues, “the seized vehicles are available for public viewing at the Customs Warehouse in Tafuna until November 24 (yesterday) at 12:00 p.m. (noon). The auction is taking place on the field between the Customs Warehouse building and the main road in Tafuna.”

It was “a sealed-bid auction, and all bids must be submitted to the Office of Property Management by 12:00pm on November 24, 2025.

Successful bidders were required to make a 10 percent payment upon notification, with the remaining balance paid in full before vehicles are exported.

It further notes that “as this auction is designated for export only, all vehicles purchased must be shipped off-island to destinations outside U.S. jurisdiction.

“Because these vehicles do not meet federal safety standards, they cannot be registered or driven in American Samoa or anywhere within the United States.

Following the auction, all vehicles will remain with Customs.

“Buyers are responsible for arranging direct shipping, and vehicles will be released solely from Customs to the authorized vessel for export.”

The press release states that “this procedure ensures transparency and upholds the integrity of the export-only requirement.”

BACKGROUND

In July of this year, the Customs Division of Treasury issued notices of seizures to the consignees of vehicles imported directly from China. The consignees or importers were given 30 calendar days to file a complaint or appeal with the High Court of American Samoa if they wanted to contest the seizure.

All costs related to re-exportation of the vehicles are the sole responsibility of the importers, and public funds would not be used to subsidize the removal or return of the non-compliant vehicles, according to information provided by then Treasurer Donald Kruse to the media concerning the vehicles from China.

At the time, Kruse stated that federal regulatory frameworks are being used for enforcement in the absence of specific territorial provisions, as pursuant to the American Samoa Code Annotated. He noted that “these requirements have long existed under federal and territorial law,” with any prior non action reflecting a lapse in execution, not in legal authority.

Kruse pointed out that the imports of the vehicles correspond with rising Asian-own commercial activity (car rentals, as well as retail stores) within the territory.

The former Treasurer, repeated his explanation in a Senate hearing held in September this year, when he and the head of Customs were called to testify in a hearing about concerns the senators had about these ‘illegal imported’ vehicles.