Deputy Director of Commerce Lelei Peau, said in testimony at a House hearing that in 2008, the balance of trade reported a deficit of $231 million.
This is expected to worsen as lesser amounts of canned tuna is to be exported from American Samoa in 2009 and 2010.
Employment information shows that the total employment for 2008 was 16,990 and this number is expected to drop because of the cannery closure.
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