The American Samoa member of the US Congress, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, says he wants to see more economic trade and exchange of services between the territory and Tokelau.
Faleomavaega says there are probably thousands of Tokelauans who are either US citizens or at least residing in states such as California and Hawaii, as well as those in American Samoa with strong family ties to Tokelau.
Faleomavaega says he is looking at ways of improving ties between American Samoa, Samoa and Tokelau, because of the blood ties between the groups.
He says he's looking at the possibility of more trade, and whether it is more convenient for American Samoa to provide consumer goods and cargo for Tokelau.
However, Faleomavaega says he is closely watching the future relationship between Tokelau and New Zealand.