§2780 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

Keeps the U.S. government and U.S. people from sending or helping a country get weapons if the Secretary of State finds that country has repeatedly supported international terrorism. The government must not export, sell, lease, loan, grant, license, approve, finance, guarantee, or otherwise help provide any item on the U.S. Munitions List to such a country. If a determination is made, the U.S. must stop deliveries that are not finished, end leases or loans already in effect, suspend financial help already obligated (the President can allow limited payments if not providing weapons and if withholding them would cause undue hardship), withdraw consents and suspend licenses except for items already transferred, and block any other facilitation by agencies, officials, or others acting for the government. U.S. persons also may not export or otherwise provide munitions, or help someone else get them for that country, including through foreign companies they control. The Secretary’s determination must be published. It covers support for terrorism and includes helping spread nuclear explosive devices, supplying unsafeguarded special nuclear material, or aiding use or buildup of chemical, biological, or radiological weapons. To remove a country, the President must report to Congress showing the country changed or has not supported terrorism for a specified time (including a 6-month lookback for one option), and Congress has 45 days to block a rescission. The President may waive the ban for a single transaction essential to national security after 15 days’ consultation and a detailed report. Intelligence activities covered by Title V reporting are exempt. Willful violations can bring up to $1,000,000 in fines, up to 20 years in jail, or both; civil penalties up to $500,000 may also be imposed. “Munitions item,” “United States person,” and other technical terms are defined in the law.

Title 22, §2780

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The following transactions by the United States Government are prohibited:

(1)Exporting or otherwise providing (by sale, lease or loan, grant, or other means), directly or indirectly, any munitions item to a country described in subsection (d) under the authority of this chapter, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], or any other law (except as provided in subsection (h)). In implementing this paragraph, the United States Government—

(A)shall suspend delivery to such country of any such item pursuant to any such transaction which has not been completed at the time the Secretary of State makes the determination described in subsection (d), and

(B)shall terminate any lease or loan to such country of any such item which is in effect at the time the Secretary of State makes that determination.

(2)Providing credits, guarantees, or other financial assistance under the authority of this chapter, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], or any other law (except as provided in subsection (h)), with respect to the acquisition of any munitions item by a country described in subsection (d). In implementing this paragraph, the United States Government shall suspend expenditures pursuant to any such assistance obligated before the Secretary of State makes the determination described in subsection (d). The President may authorize expenditures otherwise required to be suspended pursuant to the preceding sentence if the President has determined, and reported to the Congress, that suspension of those expenditures causes undue financial hardship to a supplier, shipper, or similar person and allowing the expenditure will not result in any munitions item being made available for use by such country.

(3)Consenting under section 2753(a) of this title, under section 505(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2314(a)], under the regulations issued to carry out section 2778 of this title, or under any other law (except as provided in subsection (h)), to any transfer of any munitions item to a country described in subsection (d). In implementing this paragraph, the United States Government shall withdraw any such consent which is in effect at the time the Secretary of State makes the determination described in subsection (d), except that this sentence does not apply with respect to any item that has already been transferred to such country.

(4)Providing any license or other approval under section 2778 of this title for any export or other transfer (including by means of a technical assistance agreement, manufacturing licensing agreement, or coproduction agreement) of any munitions item to a country described in subsection (d). In implementing this paragraph, the United States Government shall suspend any such license or other approval which is in effect at the time the Secretary of State makes the determination described in subsection (d), except that this sentence does not apply with respect to any item that has already been exported or otherwise transferred to such country.

(5)Otherwise facilitating the acquisition of any munitions item by a country described in subsection (d). This paragraph applies with respect to activities undertaken—

(A)by any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Government,

(B)by any officer or employee of the Government (including members of the United States Armed Forces), or

(C)by any other person at the request or on behalf of the Government.

(b)(1)A United States person may not take any of the following actions:

(A)Exporting any munitions item to any country described in subsection (d).

(B)Selling, leasing, loaning, granting, or otherwise providing any munitions item to any country described in subsection (d).

(C)Selling, leasing, loaning, granting, or otherwise providing any munitions item to any recipient which is not the government of or a person in a country described in subsection (d) if the United States person has reason to know that the munitions item will be made available to any country described in subsection (d).

(D)Taking any other action which would facilitate the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any munitions item by the government of any country described in subsection (d), or any person acting on behalf of that government, if the United States person has reason to know that that action will facilitate the acquisition of that item by such a government or person.

(2)A United States person violates this subsection if a corporation or other person that is controlled in fact by that United States person (as determined under regulations, which the President shall issue) takes an action described in paragraph (1) outside the United States.

(3)Paragraph (1) applies with respect to actions described in that paragraph which are taken either within or outside the United States by a United States person described in subsection (l)(3)(A) or (B). To the extent provided in regulations issued under subsection (l)(3)(D), paragraph (1) applies with respect to actions described in that paragraph which are taken outside the United States by a person designated as a United States person in those regulations.

(c)This section applies with respect to—

(1)the acquisition of munitions items by the government of a country described in subsection (d); and

(2)the acquisition of munitions items by any individual, group, or other person within a country described in subsection (d), except to the extent that subparagraph (D) of subsection (b)(1) provides otherwise.

(d)The prohibitions contained in this section apply with respect to a country if the Secretary of State determines that the government of that country has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. For purposes of this subsection, such acts shall include all activities that the Secretary determines willfully aid or abet the international proliferation of nuclear explosive devices to individuals or groups, willfully aid or abet an individual or groups in acquiring unsafeguarded special nuclear material, or willfully aid or abet the efforts of an individual or group to use, develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire chemical, biological, or radiological weapons.

(e)Each determination of the Secretary of State under subsection (d) shall be published in the Federal Register.

(f)(1)A determination made by the Secretary of State under subsection (d) may not be rescinded unless the President submits to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate—

(A)before the proposed rescission would take effect, a report certifying that—

(i)there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the government of the country concerned;

(ii)that government is not supporting acts of international terrorism; and

(iii)that government has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future; or

(B)at least 45 days before the proposed rescission would take effect, a report justifying the rescission and certifying that—

(i)the government concerned has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period; and

(ii)the government concerned has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.

(2)(A)No rescission under paragraph (1)(B) of a determination under subsection (d) may be made if the Congress, within 45 days after receipt of a report under paragraph (1)(B), enacts a joint resolution the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That the proposed rescission of the determination under section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act pursuant to the report submitted to the Congress on _________ is hereby prohibited.”, the blank to be completed with the appropriate date.

(B)A joint resolution described in subparagraph (A) and introduced within the appropriate 45-day period shall be considered in the Senate and the House of Representatives in accordance with paragraphs (3) through (7) of section 8066(c) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (as contained in Public Law 98–473), except that references in such paragraphs to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be deemed to be references to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, respectively.

(g)The President may waive the prohibitions contained in this section with respect to a specific transaction if—

(1)the President determines that the transaction is essential to the national security interests of the United States; and

(2)not less than 15 days prior to the proposed transaction, the President—

(A)consults with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(B)submits to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing—

(i)the name of any country involved in the proposed transaction, the identity of any recipient of the items to be provided pursuant to the proposed transaction, and the anticipated use of those items;

(ii)a description of the munitions items involved in the proposed transaction (including their market value) and the actual sale price at each step in the transaction (or if the items are transferred by other than sale, the manner in which they will be provided);

(iii)the reasons why the proposed transaction is essential to the national security interests of the United States and the justification for such proposed transaction;

(iv)the date on which the proposed transaction is expected to occur; and

(v)the name of every United States Government department, agency, or other entity involved in the proposed transaction, every foreign government involved in the proposed transaction, and every private party with significant participation in the proposed transaction.

(h)The prohibitions contained in this section do not apply with respect to any transaction subject to reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 ([50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.]; relating to congressional oversight of intelligence activities).

(i)(1)With regard to munitions items controlled pursuant to this chapter, the provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of law, other than section 614(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2364(a)).

(2)If the authority of section 614(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2364(a)] is used to permit a transaction under that Act [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.] or this chapter which is otherwise prohibited by this section, the written policy justification required by that section shall include the information specified in subsection (g)(2)(B) of this section.

(j)Any person who willfully violates this section shall be fined for each violation not more than $1,000,000, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

(k)In the enforcement of this section, the President is authorized to exercise the same powers concerning violations and enforcement which are conferred upon departments, agencies, and officials by section 11(c), 11(e), 11(g), and 12(a) 11 See References in Text note below. of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable to such powers under that Act), except that section 11(c)(2)(B) of such Act shall not apply, and instead, as prescribed in regulations issued under this section, the Secretary of State may assess civil penalties for violations of this chapter and regulations prescribed thereunder and further may commence a civil action to recover such civil penalties, and except further that, notwithstanding section 11(c) of that Act, the civil penalty for each violation of this section may not exceed $500,000.

(l)As used in this section—

(1)the term “munitions item” means any item enumerated on the United States Munitions list 22 So in original. Probably should be capitalized. (without regard to whether the item is imported into or exported from the United States);

(2)the term “United States”, when used geographically, means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States;

(3)the term “United States person” means—

(A)any citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States;

(B)any sole proprietorship, partnership, company, association, or corporation having its principal place of business within the United States or organized under the laws of the United States, any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any territory or possession of the United States;

(C)any other person with respect to that person’s actions while in the United States; and

(D)to the extent provided in regulations issued by the Secretary of State, any person that is not described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) but—

(i)is a foreign subsidiary or affiliate of a United States person described in subparagraph (B) and is controlled in fact by that United States person (as determined in accordance with those regulations), or

(ii)is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,

(4)the term “nuclear explosive device” has the meaning given that term in section 6305(4) of this title; and

(5)the term “unsafeguarded special nuclear material” has the meaning given that term in section 6305(8) of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (2), (i)(1), and (k), was in the original “this Act”, and this chapter, referred to in subsec. (i)(2), was in the original “the Arms Export Control Act”, both of which mean Pub. L. 90–629, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1321, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2751 of this title and Tables. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (2) and (i)(2), is Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, which is classified principally to chapter 32 (§ 2151 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables. section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A), is classified to subsec. (d) of this section. Paragraphs (3) through (7) of section 8066(c) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (as contained in Public Law 98–473), referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(B), is Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(h) [title VIII, § 8066(c)(3)–(7)], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1904, 1936, 1937, which is not classified to the Code. The National Security Act of 1947, referred to in subsec. (h), is act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 61 Stat. 495, which was formerly classified principally to chapter 15 (§ 401 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to editorial reclassification in chapter 44 (§ 3001 et seq.) of Title 50. Title V of the Act is now classified generally to subchapter III (§ 3091 et seq.) of chapter 44 of Title 50. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Export Administration Act of 1979, referred to in subsec. (k), is Pub. L. 96–72, Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 503, which was classified principally to chapter 56 (§ 4601 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1766(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2232, except for section 11A, 11B, and 11C thereof (50 U.S.C. 4611, 4612, 4613). section 11 and 12 of the Act were classified to section 4610 and 4614, respectively, of Title 50 prior to repeal.

Amendments

2014—Subsecs. (f)(1), (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 113–276 substituted “the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and” for “the Speaker of the House of Representatives and” in introductory provisions. 2010—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 111–195 substituted “20 years” for “10 years”. 2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–228 substituted “groups,” for “groups or” in second sentence and inserted before period at end “, or willfully aid or abet the efforts of an individual or group to use, develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire chemical, biological, or radiological weapons”. 1999—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 106–113 inserted “section 11(c)(2)(B) of such Act shall not apply, and instead, as prescribed in

Regulations

issued under this section, the Secretary of State may assess civil penalties for violations of this chapter and

Regulations

prescribed thereunder and further may commence a civil action to recover such civil penalties, and except further that” after “except that”. 1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–236, § 822(a)(2)(A), inserted at end “For purposes of this subsection, such acts shall include all activities that the Secretary determines willfully aid or abet the international proliferation of nuclear explosive devices to individuals or groups or willfully aid or abet an individual or groups in acquiring unsafeguarded special nuclear material.” Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 103–236, § 822(a)(2)(B), amended subsec. (l) by striking “and” after the semicolon in par. (2), substituting a semicolon for the period at the end of par. (3), and adding pars. (4) and (5). 1991—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–138, § 321, designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former par. (1) as subpar. (A) and former subpars. (A) to (C) as cls. (i) to (iii), respectively, redesignated former par. (2) as subpar. (B) and former subpars. (A) and (B) as cls. (i) and (ii), respectively, and added par. (2). So much of Pub. L. 102–138, § 321(1), as directed that subpar. (C) of former par. (2) be redesignated cl. (iii) of par. (1)(B), could not be executed because no such subpar. (C) had been enacted. 1989—Pub. L. 101–222 substituted “Transactions with” for “Exports to” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(a) Prohibition.—Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, items on the United States Munitions List may not be exported to any country which the Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 6(j)(1)(A) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)(1)(A)), has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. “(b) Waiver.—The President may waive the prohibition contained in subsection (a) of this section in the case of a particular export if the President determines that the export is important to the national interests of the United States and submits to the Congress a report justifying that determination and describing the proposed export. Any such waiver shall expire at the end of 90 days after it is granted unless the Congress enacts a law extending the waiver.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–236 effective 60 days after Apr. 30, 1994, see section 831 of Pub. L. 103–236, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 6301 of this title.

§2780 Transactions with countries supporting acts of international terrorism

Summary

Title 22, §2780

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Short Title

Short Title

Amendments

Regulations

Regulations

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

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