US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

19 U.S.C. § 1872

Interagency trade organization

(a)

Establishment; functions; membership and composition; participation of representatives of other agencies; meetings

(1)
The President shall establish an interagency organization.
(2)
The functions of the organization are—
(A)
section 2171 of this title to assist, and make recommendations to, the President in carrying out the functions vested in him by the trade laws and to advise the United States Trade Representative (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Trade Representative”) in carrying out the functions set forth in ;
(B)
to assist the President, and advise the Trade Representative, with respect to the development and implementation of the international trade policy objectives of the United States; and
(C)
to advise the President and the Trade Representative with respect to the relationship between the international trade policy objectives of the United States and other major policy areas which may significantly affect the overall international trade policy and trade competitiveness of the United States.
(3)
The interagency organization shall be composed of the following:
(A)
The Trade Representative, who shall be chairperson.
(B)
The Secretary of Commerce.
(C)
The Secretary of State.
(D)
The Secretary of the Treasury.
(E)
The Secretary of Agriculture.
(F)
The Secretary of Labor.
The Trade Representative may invite representatives from other agencies, as appropriate, to attend particular meetings if subject matters of specific functional interest to such agencies are under consideration. It shall meet at such times and with respect to such matters as the President or the Chairman shall direct.
(b)

Duties

In assisting the President, the organization shall—
(1)
make recommendations to the President on basic policy issues arising in the administration of the trade agreements program,
(2)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
make recommendations to the President as to what action, if any, he should take on reports submitted to him by the United States International Trade Commission under section 2251(d)  of this title,
(3)
1 advise the President of the results of hearings held pursuant to section 2412(b)(2)  of this title, and recommend appropriate action with respect thereto, and
(4)
perform such other functions with respect to the trade agreements program as the President may from time to time designate.
In carrying out its functions under this subsection, the organization shall take into account the advice of the congressional advisers and private sector advisory committees, as well as that of any committee or other body established to advise the department, agency, or office which a member of the organization heads.
(c)

Use of resources of agencies; procedures and committees

section 2412(b)(2) of this titleThe organization shall, to the maximum extent practicable, draw upon the resources of the agencies represented in the organization, as well as such other agencies as it may determine, including the United States International Trade Commission. In addition, the President may establish by regulation such procedures and committees as he may determine to be necessary to enable the organization to provide for the conduct of hearings pursuant to , and for the carrying out of other functions assigned to the organization pursuant to this section.

Pub. L. 87–794, title II, § 24276 Stat. 878Pub. L. 93–618, title I, § 171(b)88 Stat. 2009Pub. L. 96–39, title IX, § 902(c)93 Stat. 300Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1621(a)102 Stat. 1263(, , ; , title VI, § 602(b), , , 2072; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2251 of this titlePub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1401(a)102 Stat. 1225section 2252(f) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was amended generally by , , , and as so amended does not contain a subsec. (d). See .

Section 2412 of this titlePub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1301(a)102 Stat. 1168, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was amended generally by , , , and as so amended the provisions of subsec. (b)(2) of section 2412 are contained in subsec. (a)(4).

Amendments

Pub. L. 100–418, § 1621(a)(1)1988—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The President shall establish an interagency organization to assist him in carrying out the functions vested in him by this subchapter and sections 2251, 2252, and 2253 of this title. Such organization shall, in addition to the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations, be composed of the heads of such departments and of such other officers as the President shall designate. It shall meet at such times and with respect to such matters as the President or the chairman of the organization shall direct. The organization may invite the participation in its activities of any agency not represented in the organization when matters of interest to such agency are under consideration.”

Pub. L. 100–418, § 1621(a)(2)Subsec. (b). , inserted at end: “In carrying out its functions under this subsection, the organization shall take into account the advice of the congressional advisers and private sector advisory committees, as well as that of any committee or other body established to advise the department, agency, or office which a member of the organization heads.”

Pub. L. 96–39section 2412(b)(2) of this title1979—Subsecs. (b)(3), (c). substituted “” for “section 2411(c) and (d) of this title”.

Pub. L. 93–618, § 602(b)(1)1975—Subsec. (a). , substituted reference to sections 2251, 2252, and 2253 of this title for reference to sections 1981 and 1982 of this title.

Pub. L. 93–618, § 602(b)(2)section 2251(d) of this titlesection 1901(e) of this titleSubsec. (b)(2). , (3), substituted “reports submitted to him” for “reports with respect to tariff adjustment submitted to him” and “” for “.”

Pub. L. 93–618, § 602(b)(4)section 1882(d) of this titleSubsec. (b)(3). , (5), substituted “hearings held pursuant to” for hearings concerning foreign import restrictions held pursuant to” and “section 2411(c) and (d) of this title” for “”.

Pub. L. 93–618, § 602(b)(5)section 1882(d) of this titleSubsec. (c). , substituted “section 2411(c) and (d) of this title” for “”.

Pub. L. 93–618, § 171(b), substituted “United States International Trade Commission” for “United States Tariff Commission”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–39section 903 of Pub. L. 96–39section 2411 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Establishment of Interagency Group

section 4582(c)(2) of this titleFor provisions establishing an interagency group within the interagency organization established under this section, relating to the implementation of chapter 10 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, see .

section 405 of Pub. L. 100–449section 2112 of this titleFor provisions establishing an interagency group within the interagency organization established under this section, relating to the implementation of chapters 18 and 19 of the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement, see , set out in a note under .

Sense of Congress Respecting Role of Interagency Organization

Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1621(b)102 Stat. 1264

“It is the sense of Congress that the interagency organization established under subsection (a) [amending this section] should be the principal interagency forum within the executive branch on international trade policy matters.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions From East-West Foreign Trade Board

Pub. L. 93–618, title IV, § 41188 Stat. 2065section 2441 of this title44 Stat. 6927593 Stat. 1381section 2171 of this titlesection 411 of Pub. L. 93–618section 2441 of this titleEast-West Foreign Trade Board, which was established by , , , and classified to , abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, § 6, , , eff. , as provided by section 1–107(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, , 45 F.R. 993, set out as notes under , and functions of Board under subsecs. (a) and (b) of transferred to interagency organization established under this section by section 5(e) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979. See .

Trade Policy Committee

section 2111 of this titleFor provisions relating to Trade Policy Committee, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 11846, , 40 F.R. 14291, set out as a note under .