Speaking following the announcement, deputy assistant secretary for the Executive Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the US Treasury Department, Juan Zarate announced that:

"The international community, through the FATF, continues to remain vigilant and act against the threat of money laundering and terrorist financing. Today's announcement is a clear indication that we are making important progress in building the international net to prevent and catch the flow of tainted money through the financial system."

However, the Cook Islands, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria and the Philippines still remain on the list of countries considered uncooperative in the fight against money laundering.

The FATF's decision has come as a disappointment to all of the remaining countries. However, it was an especial blow for the Cook Islands, which has recently tightened up its laws with regard to the financial sector and offshore companies, and for Nauru, which has passed new anti-money laundering legislation, and effectively dismantled its offshore banking sector in an attempt to secure removal from the FATF list.