Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§6443 Consultations

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS › Part Part A— - Targeted Responses to Violations of Religious Freedom Abroad › § 6443

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President must start talks as soon as possible after deciding to act on serious religious freedom violations, or no later than 90 days after naming a country a "country of particular concern." The President must ask that country's government to meet about the problems and, if the country agrees, hold the talks in public or private. The talks can include other countries when helpful, and the President should coordinate with other governments before taking action. If keeping negotiations secret is needed to protect them, the President can withhold details from the public but must tell the appropriate congressional committees. The President should also consult humanitarian and religious groups about how U.S. steps might affect people, and consult U.S. businesses and other interested parties about economic or other impacts.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §6443

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)As soon as practicable after the President decides to take action under section 6441 of this title in response to violations of religious freedom and the President decides to take action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of section 6445(a) of this title (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) with respect to that country, or not later than 90 days after the President designates a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under section 6442 of this title, as the case may be, the President shall carry out the consultations required in this section.

(b)(1)The President shall—

(A)request consultation with the government of such country regarding the violations giving rise to designation of that country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom or to Presidential action under section 6441 of this title; and

(B)if agreed to, enter into such consultations, privately or publicly.

(2)If the President determines it to be appropriate, such consultations may be sought and may occur in a multilateral forum, but, in any event, the President shall consult with appropriate foreign governments for the purposes of achieving a coordinated international policy on actions that may be taken with respect to a country described in subsection (a), prior to implementing any such action.

(3)If negotiations are undertaken or an agreement is concluded with a foreign government regarding steps to cease the pattern of violations by that government, and if public disclosure of such negotiations or agreement would jeopardize the negotiations or the implementation of such agreement, as the case may be, the President may refrain from disclosing such negotiations and such agreement to the public, except that the President shall inform the appropriate congressional committees of the nature and extent of such negotiations and any agreement reached.

(c)The President should consult with appropriate humanitarian and religious organizations concerning the potential impact of United States policies to promote freedom of religion in countries described in subsection (a).

(d)The President shall, as appropriate, consult with United States interested parties as to the potential impact of intended Presidential action or actions in countries described in subsection (a) on economic or other interests of the United States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 6443

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73