U.S Rep Ed Case has proposed a presidential initiative to negotiate free trade agreements with Pacific Island countries and extend duty-free treatment to certain goods imported from the region.
Case, a Democrat from Hawaii, stressed the need for Washington to strengthen its economic diplomacy with island countries to protect its regional posture.
“The Pacific islands, spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, are key partners in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening mutual economic, security and cultural ties across countries sharing mutual values and goals,” said Case, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus.
H.R. 6619, titled “Promoting Regional Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and Economic Resilience in the Pacific” or PROSPER Act, is aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the island region.
Case said the proposed legislation aligns with the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 annual report, which advises Congress to bolster economic assistance to Pacific Island countries “to support U.S national security interests and the priorities of partner countries.”
The bill, Case said, took a cue from the Pacific Islands Forum’s priority need to build trade capacity and infrastructure.
He said the Forum, an influential political group, has specifically advocated for preferential trade agreements to mitigate its disadvantages, such as a lack of competitiveness due to its small national markets, isolation from the global market and high cost of operating, exacerbated by land and labour constraints.
The PROSPER Act would extend duty-free treatment to certain goods imported from eligible Pacific islands in the same manner afforded to least-developed beneficiary developing countries under the Generalized System of Preferences of GSP.
Several Pacific Island countries enjoyed preferential treatment under the GSP until the programme lapsed in 2020.
Tuna, cane sugar, ginger and taro are among the Pacific islands’ top exports to the U.S, which would be eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP, Case said.
The PROSPER Act directs the U.S president to develop a plan to negotiate free trade agreements with island governments and create a dedicated trade facilitation and capacity-building program to promote inclusive economic development, create sustainable job opportunities, and improve standards of living in the region.
“It is in our mutual best interests that we develop, maintain and grow our relationships across all levels, of which economic advancement is especially important,” Case said.
While the 2025 National Security Strategy identified the Indo-Pacific as “the next century’s key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds,” Case noted that the U.S economic toolkit for achieving its goals in the region leaves much to be desired.
“Implementing such a programme would come at a low cost to the U.S while delivering a high strategic return, especially given the People’s Republic of China’s (increased focus on expanding its influence in the region,” Case said.
“My bill, PROSPER in the Pacific, would provide a visible alternative to (China) by emphasizing economic partnership over debt-trap diplomacy, all while encouraging private-sector-led development, market-based economies and mutual goodwill between our countries,” he said.
