Title 19Customs DutiesRelease 119-73

§2545 Contracts and grants

Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 13— - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979 › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS) › Part Part B— - Functions of Federal Agencies › § 2545

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Trade Representative and the Secretary in charge can make grants or sign contracts with other federal agencies, state agencies, or private people to help carry out their duties under this law. These grants and contracts can fund programs that raise awareness of standards-related actions, help trade through standards work, provide U.S. representation in international standards activities when appropriate (under section 2543), and inform exporters about foreign standards that affect sales. Grants and contracts must follow rules the Trade Representative or Secretary sets to protect U.S. interests. Federal money cannot pay more than 75 percent of a program’s total cost; the rest must come from non‑federal cash or in‑kind contributions. Anyone who gets a grant or contract must give their books and records to the Trade Representative or Secretary and to the Comptroller General for audit.

Full Legal Text

Title 19, §2545

Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of carrying out this subchapter, and otherwise encouraging compliance with the Agreement, the Trade Representative and the Secretary concerned may each, with respect to functions for which responsible under this subchapter, make grants to, or enter into contracts with, any other Federal agency, any State agency, or any private person, to assist such agency or person to implement appropriate programs and activities, including, but not limited to, programs and activities—
(1)to increase awareness of proposed and adopted standards-related activities;
(2)to facilitate international trade through the appropriate international and domestic standards-related activities;
(3)to provide, if appropriate, and pursuant to section 2543 of this title, adequate United States representation in international standards-related activities; and
(4)to encourage United States exports through increased awareness of foreign standards-related activities that may affect United States exports.
(b)Any contract entered into, or any grant made, under subsection (a) shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Trade Representative or Secretary concerned shall by regulation prescribe as being necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(c)Financial assistance extended under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total costs (as established by the Trade Representative or Secretary concerned, as the case may be) of the program or activity for which assistance is made available. The non-Federal share of such costs shall be made in cash or kind, consistent with the maintenance of the program or activity concerned.
(d)Each recipient of a grant or contract under this section shall make available to the Trade Representative or the Secretary concerned, as the case may be, and to the Comptroller General of the United States, for purposes of audit and examination, any book, document, paper, and record that is pertinent to the funds received under such grant or contract.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–295 amended directory language of Pub. L. 103–182. See 1993 Amendment note below. 1993—Pub. L. 103–182, as amended by Pub. L. 104–295, substituted “Trade Representative” for “Special Representative” wherever appearing.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

19 U.S.C. § 2545

Title 19Customs Duties

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73