§3532 Implementation of Uruguay Round Agreements

Summary

The United States must try to keep World Trade Organization decisions made by consensus under paragraph 1 of Article IX. Before the WTO Ministerial Conference or General Council votes on six kinds of matters — for example, adopting interpretations, changing agreements, granting waivers, changing rules, letting a new member join, or other major decisions — the U.S. Trade Representative must talk with the appropriate congressional committees. If the WTO votes during a year on certain items (interpretations, amendments, rule changes, or other decisions), the Trade Representative must, no later than 30 days after the year ends, send a report to those committees. The report must say what the decision was; what the U.S. did to try to get consensus under paragraph 1 of Article IX and what happened; which countries voted for and against; what U.S. rights or duties are affected and any Federal or State law that would need to be changed if the President, after consulting Congress, thought that was needed; and what the President plans to do or why not. For waivers, the report must give the waiver’s terms and the U.S. rights affected. For a new member joining, the report must say whether the U.S. will invoke Article XIII. After sending the report, the Trade Representative must promptly consult with the congressional committees.