Table 1.

Participants perceptions of how international trade may benefit and pose risks for Samoa’s development

Perceived trade benefits	Perceived trade related risks
Participation in global movement	Loss of local decision-making/ overturning national health protection policies
WTO accession status – international member and benefits	WTO accession status – top-down approach/lack of consultation
PACER Plus – increased alignment between Samoa and Australia/NZ	PACER Plus - unequal trading platforms i.e. Australia/NZ gain more than Samoa
Increased wealth from business creation	Loss of tariffs – loss of government revenue for essential services e.g. health and education
Improving gender equality – empowerment of women	Increase in inequalities – greater divide between employed and unemployed; urban vs. rural
Increased access to wider range of goods e.g. foods; increase in consumer choice	Nutrition transition – shift in diets resulting from increased availability of high density – nutrient poor foods
Increased trade in services – e.g. increased remittances	Loss of workforce/skills abroad