Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73
§1330 Organization of Commission
Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › Subtitle SUBTITLE II— - SPECIAL PROVISIONS › Part Part II— - United States International Trade Commission › § 1330
Summary
The United States International Trade Commission has six commissioners. The President picks them and the Senate must approve. They must be U.S. citizens with skills in international trade. Someone who already served more than 5 years (not counting service before January 3, 1975) cannot be reappointed. No more than three commissioners can belong to the same political party, and appointments should alternate parties when possible. Most commissioners serve terms that end nine years after the date the previous commissioner’s term ended. If a person is picked to fill a vacancy, they only serve the rest of that term, and any commissioner may keep working until a successor is ready. The President names a chairman and a vice chairman from among the commissioners and tells Congress who they are. If no chairman is named when a term starts after June 16, 1978, the commissioner of a different party than the previous chair with the longest continuous service becomes chair. The first chair term after that date ran from June 17, 1978, to the close of June 16, 1980; after that each chair and vice chair serves two-year terms. The President may not pick as chair someone from the same party as the previous chair or someone with under one year of continuous service, and the vice chair may not be of the same party as that term’s chair. The vice chair fills in for the chair if needed. Commissioners may not hold other jobs. A majority of commissioners in office is a quorum, and the Commission can work even if some seats are empty. When the Commission must decide whether imports cause serious injury or whether market disruption exists, special rules cover ties and split votes on remedies. If a majority finds injury or disruption but cannot agree on a remedy, a remedy supported by at least three commissioners can be treated as the Commission’s for purposes of section 2253. If two groups of at least three commissioners each pick different remedies, the President’s reported action determines which group’s remedy is treated as the Commission’s, and if the President does something different or nothing, either group’s remedy may be considered by Congress and treated as the Commission’s. If commissioners are evenly split on injury or disruption, the Commission must report each group’s view to the President. If half of the commissioners voting agree to open an investigation or hold hearings, the Commission must do so. Congress may appropriate funds for the Commission; authorized amounts include $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 and $57,240,000 for fiscal year 2004. Up to $2,500 of the yearly amount may be used for receptions with the Chairman’s approval. The Commission may not use its funds to do a special study for an executive agency unless that agency pays for it. Additional money for pay, retirement, and benefits after September 30, 1977 may be provided as needed. By the time the President sends his budget to Congress, the Commission must tell the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee how much money it will need for the next fiscal year. The Commission is treated as an independent regulatory agency for chapter 35 of title 44.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1330
Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The United States International Trade Commission (referred to in this subtitle as the “Commission”) shall be composed of six commissioners who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No person shall be eligible for appointment as a commissioner unless he is a citizen of the United States, and, in the judgment of the President, is possessed of qualifications requisite for developing expert knowledge of international trade problems and efficiency in administering the duties and functions of the Commission. A person who has served as a commissioner for more than 5 years (excluding service as a commissioner before January 3, 1975) shall not be eligible for reappointment as a commissioner. Not more than three of the commissioners shall be members of the same political party, and in making appointments members of different political parties shall be appointed alternately as nearly as may be practicable.
(b)The terms of office of the commissioners holding office on January 3, 1975, which (but for this sentence) would expire on June 16, 1975, June 16, 1976, June 16, 1977, June 16, 1978, June 16, 1979, and June 16, 1980, shall expire on December 16, 1976, June 16, 1978, December 16, 1979, June 16, 1981, December 16, 1982, and June 16, 1984, respectively. The term of office of each commissioner appointed after such date shall expire 9 years from the date of the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed, except that—
(1)any commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term, and
(2)any commissioner may continue to serve as a commissioner after an expiration of his term of office until his successor is appointed and qualified.
(c)(1)The chairman and the vice chairman of the Commission shall be designated by the President from among the members of the Commission not ineligible, under paragraph (3), for designation. The President shall notify the Congress of his designations under this paragraph. If, as of the date on which a term begins under paragraph (2), the President has not designated the chairman of the Commission for such term, the Commissioner 11 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized. who, as of such date—
(A)is a member of a different political party than the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term, and
(B)has the longest period of continuous service as a commissioner,
(2)After June 16, 1978, the terms of office for the chairman and vice chairman of the Commission shall be as follows:
(A)The first term of office occurring after such date shall begin on June 17, 1978, and end at the close of June 16, 1980.
(B)Each term of office thereafter shall begin on the day after the closing date of the immediately preceding term of office and end at the close of the 2-year period beginning on such day.
(3)(A)The President may not designate as the chairman of the Commission for any term any commissioner who is a member of the political party of which the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term is a member, or who has less than 1 year of continuous service as a commissioner as of the date such designation is being made.
(B)The President may not designate as the vice chairman of the Commission for any term any commissioner who is a member of the political party of which the chairman for that term is a member.
(C)If any commissioner does not complete a term as chairman or vice chairman by reason of death, resignation, removal from office as a commissioner, or expiration of his term of office as a commissioner, the President shall designate as the chairman or vice chairman, as the case may be, for the remainder of such term a commissioner who is a member of the same political party. Designation of a chairman under this subparagraph may be made without regard to the 1-year continuous service requirement under subparagraph (A).
(4)The vice chairman shall act as chairman in case of the absence or disability of the chairman. During any period in which there is no chairman or vice chairman, the commissioner having the longest period of continuous service as a commissioner shall act as chairman.
(5)No commissioner shall actively engage in any business, vocation, or employment other than that of serving as a commissioner.
(6)A majority of the commissioners in office shall constitute a quorum, but the Commission may function notwithstanding vacancies.
(d)(1)In a proceeding in which the Commission is required to determine—
(A)under section 2252 of this title, whether increased imports of an article are a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat thereof, as described in subsection (b)(1) of that section (hereafter in this subsection referred to as “serious injury”), or
(B)under section 2436 of this title, whether market disruption exists.
(2)If under section 2252(b) or 2436 of this title there is an affirmative determination of the Commission, or a determination of the Commission which the President may consider an affirmative determination under paragraph (1), that serious injury or market disruption exists, respectively, and a majority of the commissioners voting are unable to agree on a finding or recommendation described in section 2252(e)(1) of this title or the finding described in section 2436(a)(3) of this title, as the case may be (hereafter in this subsection referred to as a “remedy finding”), then—
(A)if a plurality of not less than three commissioners so voting agree on a remedy finding, such remedy finding shall, for purposes of section 2253 of this title, be treated as the remedy finding of the Commission, or
(B)if two groups, both of which include not less than 3 commissioners, each agree upon a remedy finding and the President reports under section 2254(a) of this title that—
(i)he is taking the action agreed upon by one such group, then the remedy finding agreed upon by the other group shall, for purposes of section 2253 of this title, be treated as the remedy finding of the Commission, or
(ii)he is taking action which differs from the action agreed upon by both such groups, or that he will not take any action, then the remedy finding agreed upon by either such group may be considered by the Congress as the remedy finding of the Commission and shall, for purposes of section 2253 of this title, be treated as the remedy finding of the Commission.
(3)In any proceeding to which paragraph (1) applies in which the commissioners voting are equally divided on a determination that serious injury exists, or that market disruption exists, the Commission shall report to the President the determination of each group of commissioners. In any proceeding to which paragraph (2) applies, the Commission shall report to the President the remedy finding of each group of commissioners voting.
(4)In a case to which paragraph (2)(B)(ii) applies, for purposes of section 2253(a) of this title, notwithstanding section 2192(a)(1)(A) of this title, the second blank space in the joint resolution described in such section 2192(a)(1)(A) of this title shall be filled with the appropriate date and the following: “The action which shall take effect under section 203(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 is the finding or recommendation agreed upon by Commissioners _______, _______, and ______.” The three blank spaces shall be filled with the names of the appropriate Commissioners.
(5)Whenever, in any case in which the Commission is authorized to make an investigation upon its own motion, upon complaint, or upon application of any interested party, one-half of the number of commissioners voting agree that the investigation should be made, such investigation shall thereupon be carried out in accordance with the statutory authority covering the matter in question. Whenever the Commission is authorized to hold hearings in the course of any investigation and one-half of the number of commissioners voting agree that hearings should be held, such hearings shall thereupon be held in accordance with the statutory authority covering the matter in question.
(e)(1)For the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1976, and each fiscal year thereafter, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission only such sums as may hereafter be provided by law.
(2)(A)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for necessary expenses (including the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and elsewhere) not to exceed the following:
(i)$54,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
(ii)$57,240,000 for fiscal year 2004.
(B)Not to exceed $2,500 of the amount authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year under subparagraph (A) may be used, subject to the approval of the Chairman of the Commission, for reception and entertainment expenses.
(C)No part of any sum that is appropriated under the authority of subparagraph (A) may be used by the Commission in the making of any special study, investigation, or report that is requested by any agency of the executive branch unless that agency reimburses the Commission for the cost thereof.
(3)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for each fiscal year after September 30, 1977, in addition to any other amount authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary for increases authorized by law in salary, pay, retirement, and other employee benefits.
(4)By not later than the date on which the President submits to Congress the budget of the United States Government for a fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate the projected amount of funds for the succeeding fiscal year that will be necessary for the Commission to carry out its functions.
(f)The Commission shall be considered to be an independent regulatory agency for purposes of chapter 35 of title 44.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 203(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(4), is classified to section 2253(a) of this title. Codification Provisions of subsec. (c) which prescribed the annual basic compensation of the commissioners were omitted to conform to the provisions of the Executive Schedule. See section 5314 and 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 8, 1916, ch. 463, § 700, 39 Stat. 795. That section was superseded by section 330 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section.
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 108–429 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(b). See 2002 Amendment note below. 2002—Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(a)(1), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “$41,170,000 for fiscal year 1991.” Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(a)(2), added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: “$44,052,000 for fiscal year 1992.” Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(b), as amended by Pub. L. 108–429, added par. (4). 1991—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(c)(1), inserted at end “If, as of the date on which a term begins under paragraph (2), the President has not designated the chairman of the Commission for such term, the Commissioner who, as of such date— “(A) is a member of a different political party than the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term, and “(B) has the longest period of continuous service as a commissioner, shall serve as chairman of the Commission for the portion of such term preceding the date on which an individual designated by the President takes office as chairman.” Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(2)(A), inserted “, or who has less than 1 year of continuous service as a commissioner as of the date such designation is being made” before the period. Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(1)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “The President may not designate as the chairman of the Commission for any term— “(i) either of the two commissioners with the shortest period of service on the Commission as of the beginning date of the term of office for which the designation of chairman is to be made; or “(ii) any commissioner who is a member of the political party of which the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term is a member.” Subsec. (c)(3)(C). Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(2)(B), inserted at end “Designation of a chairman under this subparagraph may be made without regard to the 1-year continuous service requirement under subparagraph (A).” Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(1)(B), struck out at end “Designation of a chairman under this subparagraph may be made without regard to the limitation set forth in subparagraph (A)(i).” 1990—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–382 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for necessary expenses (including the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and elsewhere) for fiscal year 1990 not to exceed $39,943,000; of which not to exceed $2,500 may be used, subject to approval by the Chairman of the Commission, for reception and entertainment expenses. No part of any sum that is appropriated under the authority of this paragraph may be used by the Commission for the making of any special study, investigation, or report that is requested by any agency of the executive branch unless that agency reimburses the Commission for the cost thereof.” 1989—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–207 substituted “1990” for “1988” and “$39,943,000” for “$35,386,000”. 1988—Subsec. (c)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “with the shortest period of service on” for “most recently appointed to”. Pub. L. 100–418, § 1611, which directed that subsec. (c)(A)(i) of this section be amended by substituting “with the shortest period of service on” for “most recently appointed to”, was probably intended to be an amendment to subsec. (c)(3)(A)(i). See amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 above. Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(A), substituted “2252” for “2251”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(i), (iii), in introductory provisions substituted “2252(b)” and “2252(e)(1)” for “2251” and “2251(d)(1)”, respectively. Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(iv), substituted “section 2253 of this title” for “section 2252 and 2253 of this title”. Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(iv), (v), in introductory provisions substituted “section 2254(a) of this title” for “section 2253(b) of this title” and, in cls. (i) and (ii), substituted “section 2253 of this title” for “section 2252 and 2253 of this title”. Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(C), substituted “section 2253(a) of this title” for “section 2253(c)(1) of this title” and “section 203(a) of the Trade Act of 1974” for “section 203(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–418, § 1612, added subsec. (f). 1987—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 100–203 substituted “for fiscal year 1988 not to exceed $35,386,000” for “fiscal year 1986 not to exceed $28,901,000”. 1986—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 99–272 amended first sentence generally, substituting “for fiscal year 1986 not to exceed $28,901,000” for “for fiscal year 1985 not to exceed $28,410,000”. 1984—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 98–573, § 248(c), substituted “the joint resolution described in such section 2192(a)(1)(A)” for “the concurrent resolution described in such section 2192”. Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 98–573, § 701, substituted authorization of appropriation of not more than $28,410,000 for fiscal year 1985 for necessary expenses, including the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and elsewhere for provision authorizing appropriation of not more than $19,737,000 for necessary expenses for fiscal year 1983, and inserted provision that not more than $2,500 may be used, subject to approval by the Chairman of the Commission, for reception and entertainment expenses. 1983—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 97–456 substituted authorization of appropriation of not exceeding $19,737,000 for fiscal 1983 for authorization not exceeding $12,963,000 for fiscal 1979, and inserted provision relating to reimbursement by agencies of the executive branch for studies requested by them. 1978—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 95–430 substituted provisions authorizing $12,963,000 to be appropriated for the necessary expenses of the Commission for fiscal year 1979 for provisions authorizing $11,522,000 to be appropriated for similar expenses for fiscal year 1978. 1977—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–106, § 2(a), inserted provisions in par. (1) for the Congressional notification of Presidential designations, substituted, in par. (2), provisions covering the expiration of terms of office after
June 16, 1978, for provisions covering the expiration of terms of office on and after
June 17, 1975, added par. (3), and redesignated as pars. (4) to (6) provisions formerly contained in par. (1). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–106, § 1, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3). 1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(a), inserted provisions that any commissioner may continue to serve as a commissioner after an expiration of his term of office until his successor is appointed and qualified. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(b)(2), substituted provisions relating to consideration by the President of determinations of the Commission as to whether increased imports of an article are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat or whether market disruption exists for provisions relating to consideration by the President of findings of the Commission in connection with any authority conferred upon the President by law to make changes in import restrictions. Subsec. (d)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(b), added pars. (2) to (4) and redesignated former par. (2) as (5). 1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(a), substituted “United States International Trade Commission” for “United States Tariff Commission” and inserted provision that a person who has served as a commissioner for more than five years (excluding service as a commissioner before
January 3, 1975) shall not be eligible for reappointment as a commissioner. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(a), lengthened the term of office from 6 years to 9 years for commissioners appointed after Jan. 3, 1975, and substituted Dec. 16, 1976,
June 16, 1978, Dec. 16, 1979,
June 16, 1981, Dec. 16, 1982, and
June 16, 1984, for
June 16, 1975,
June 16, 1976,
June 16, 1977,
June 16, 1978,
June 16, 1979, and
June 16, 1980, respectively, as the expiration dates for the terms of office of commissioners serving on Jan. 3, 1975. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted “Except as provided in paragraph (2),” before “The”, and added par. (2). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–618, § 175(b), added subsec. (e). 1953—Subsec. (d). Act Aug. 7, 1953, added subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–210 applicable to petitions for certification filed under part 2 or 3 of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title on or after the date that is 90 days after Aug. 6, 2002, except as otherwise provided, see section 151 of Pub. L. 107–210, set out as a note preceding section 2271 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1991 Amendment Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(3), Dec. 4, 1991, 105 Stat. 1280, provided that: “(A) Modification.—The
Amendments
made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to terms beginning on and after June 17, 1990. “(B) 1-year requirement.—The
Amendments
made by paragraph (2) [amending this section] shall apply to terms beginning on and after June 17, 1996.” Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(c)(2), Dec. 4, 1991, 105 Stat. 1281, provided that: “The amendment made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect on the 10th day following the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 1991].”
Effective Date
of 1988
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 applicable as if such amendment took effect on Aug. 23, 1988, see section 9001(b) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1988
Amendments
note under section 58c of this title. Amendment by section 1401(b)(4) of Pub. L. 100–418 effective Aug. 23, 1988, and applicable with respect to investigations initiated under part 1 (§ 2251 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title on or after that date, see section 1401(c) of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as a note under section 2251 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by section 248(c) of Pub. L. 98–573 effective on 15th day after Oct. 30, 1984, see section 214(a), (b) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1977 Amendment Pub. L. 95–106, § 2(b), Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 868, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to the designation of chairmen and vice chairmen of the United States International Trade Commission for terms beginning after June 16, 1978.”
Effective Date
of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–455, title XVIII, § 1801(c), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1763, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to determinations, findings, and recommendations made under section 201 and 406 of the Trade Act of 1974 [section 2251 and 2436 of this title] after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 4, 1976].” Appointment of Chairman in 1992 Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(b), Dec. 4, 1991, 105 Stat. 1280, provided that: “In the case of the term of the chairman of the United States International Trade Commission beginning
June 17, 1992— “(1) section 330(c)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1330(c)(3)(A)] shall not apply, and “(2) the President shall designate as chairman a Commissioner who is a member of the same political party as the chairman of the Commission serving on
June 16, 1986.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1330
Title 19 — Customs Duties
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73