Title 19Customs DutiesRelease 119-73

§2348 Protective provisions

Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - TRADE ACT OF 1974 › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - RELIEF FROM INJURY CAUSED BY IMPORT COMPETITION › Part Part 3— - Adjustment Assistance for Firms › § 2348

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Recipients must keep clear records that show how much adjustment assistance they got and how they used it, enough for an audit, and any other records the Secretary requires. The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States may examine those records. A firm cannot get assistance unless its leaders (owners, partners, or officers) tell the Secretary the names of any lawyers, agents, or others hired to speed the application and the fees paid. They must sign an agreement that for 2 years after the aid the firm and its leaders will not hire or keep for pay anyone who, on the date of the aid or within 1 year before, had a role the Secretary says could affect the assistance.

Full Legal Text

Title 19, §2348

Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each recipient of adjustment assistance under this part shall keep records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds, if any, of such adjustment assistance, and which will facilitate an effective audit. The recipient shall also keep such other records as the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient pertaining to adjustment assistance under this part.
(c)No adjustment assistance under this part shall be extended to any firm unless the owners, partners, or officers certify to the Secretary—
(1)the names of any attorneys, agents, and other persons engaged by or on behalf of the firm for the purpose of expediting applications for such adjustment assistance; and
(2)the fees paid or to be paid to any such person.
(d)No financial assistance shall be provided to any firm under this part unless the owners, partners, or officers shall execute an agreement binding them and the firm for a period of 2 years after such financial assistance is provided, to refrain from employing, tendering any office or employment to, or retaining for professional services any person who, on the date such assistance or any part thereof was provided, or within 1 year prior thereto, shall have served as an officer, attorney, agent, or employee occupying a position or engaging in activities which the Secretary shall have determined involve discretion with respect to the provision of such financial assistance.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Termination of AssistanceFor termination of assistance under this part after June 30, 2022, see Termination Date note below.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section reflects the
July 1, 2021, reversion to provisions in effect on Jan. 1, 2014. See Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival note below. section 233 of Pub. L. 112–40, which provided for the Jan. 1, 2014, revival of this section as in effect on Feb. 13, 2011, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–27, title IV, § 402(a),
June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 374, and the provisions of this section, as in effect on Dec. 31, 2013, were temporarily revived, effective
June 29, 2015, until
July 1, 2021, by Pub. L. 114–27, §§ 402(b), (c), 406. See 2011 and 2015 Amendment notes, Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes, and Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival notes below. section 1893 of Pub. L. 111–5, which provided for Feb. 13, 2011, termination of amendment by Pub. L. 111–5, was repealed by Pub. L. 112–40, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 403, and the provisions of this section, as amended by Pub. L. 111–5 and as in effect on Feb. 12, 2011, were temporarily revived, effective Oct. 21, 2011, until Jan. 1, 2014, by Pub. L. 112–40, §§ 201(b), (c), 233. See 2009 and 2011 Amendment notes, Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment notes, and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes below.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–27, §§ 402(b), (c), 406, temporarily revived the provisions of this section, as in effect on Dec. 31, 2013. See Codification note above and 2011 Amendment and Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival notes below. 2011—Pub. L. 112–40, §§ 201(b), (c), 233, temporarily revived the provisions of this section, as in effect on Feb. 12, 2011. See Codification note above and 2009 Amendment and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes below. 2009—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–5, §§ 1864(c)(1), 1893, temporarily struck out subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “No financial assistance shall be provided to any firm under this part unless the owners, partners, or officers shall execute an agreement binding them and the firm for a period of 2 years after such financial assistance is provided, to refrain from employing, tendering any office or employment to, or retaining for professional services any person who, on the date such assistance or any part thereof was provided, or within 1 year prior thereto, shall have served as an officer, attorney, agent, or employee occupying a position or engaging in activities which the Secretary shall have determined involve discretion with respect to the provision of such financial assistance.” See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 RevivalFor revival and applicability, beginning on
June 29, 2015, of the provisions of this section as in effect on Dec. 31, 2013, see section 402(b), (c) of Pub. L. 114–27, set out as a note preceding section 2271 of this title. For reversion, beginning on
July 1, 2021, to the provisions of this section as in effect on Jan. 1, 2014, with certain exceptions and subject to section 406(b) of Pub. L. 114–27, see section 406 of Pub. L. 114–27, set out as a note preceding section 2271 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 RevivalFor revival and applicability, beginning on Oct. 21, 2011, of the provisions of this section as in effect on Feb. 12, 2011, see section 201(b), (c) of Pub. L. 112–40, set out as a note preceding section 2271 of this title. section 233 of Pub. L. 112–40, formerly set out as a note preceding section 2271 of this title, which provided for the reversion, beginning on Jan. 1, 2014, of the provisions of this section to those in effect on Feb. 13, 2011, subject to certain exceptions, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–27, title IV, § 402(a),
June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 374, effective
June 29, 2015. See Codification note above. Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–5 effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on Feb. 17, 2009, see section 1864(e) of Pub. L. 111–5, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates note under section 2344 of this title. Except as otherwise provided and subject to certain applicability provisions, amendment by Pub. L. 111–5 effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on Feb. 17, 2009, see section 1891 of Pub. L. 111–5, set out as a note under section 2271 of this title. section 1893 of Pub. L. 111–5, formerly set out as a Termination Date of 2009 Amendment note preceding section 2271 of this title, which provided that, except as otherwise provided, amendment by Pub. L. 111–5 not applicable on or after Feb. 13, 2011, and that this section be applied and administered beginning Feb. 13, 2011, as if amendment by Pub. L. 111–5 had never been enacted, was repealed by Pub. L. 112–40, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 403, effective Oct. 21, 2011. See Codification note above. Termination DateExcept as otherwise provided, technical assistance and grants may not be provided under this part after
June 30, 2022, see section 285 of Pub. L. 93–618, as modified by section 406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 114–27, set out as notes preceding section 2271 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

19 U.S.C. § 2348

Title 19Customs Duties

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73