Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§1734 Agreements

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 41— - FOOD FOR PEACE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS › § 1734

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Before making agreements to send agricultural commodities to other countries under subchapters II and III–A, the Secretary or Administrator must look at whether the receiving country is taking steps to grow its economy, improve food security and farming, reduce poverty, and support fair, lasting development. Every agreement must say how much (value or volume) will be provided each year. For agreements under subchapters II and III–A, it must explain how the commodities or any money from selling them will fit into the country’s development plans to meet those goals and how private businesses in the country will be encouraged to handle storage, marketing, transport, and distribution. Each agreement must say it depends on the needed yearly funding and commodities and may include other terms the Secretary or Administrator finds necessary. Multi-year deals may be used under subchapters II and III–A and must be allowed under subchapter III. The Secretary or Administrator can choose only one-year help if a country has poor past performance, the need won’t last more than 1 year, or for other reasons, and can end or refuse a multi-year deal if the country is not meeting the program’s goals, looking at its economic reforms, market openness, and food security.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §1734

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Before entering into agreements with foreign countries under subchapters II and III–A for the provision of commodities, the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, shall consider the extent to which the recipient country is undertaking measures for economic development purposes in order to improve food security and agricultural development, alleviate poverty, and promote broad-based, equitable, and sustainable development.
(b)An agreement entered into under this chapter shall—
(1)include an estimate of the annual value or volume of agricultural commodities proposed to be made available to the country or eligible organization under the agreement;
(2)with respect to agreements entered into with foreign countries under subchapters II and III–A, include a statement of the manner in which the agricultural commodities provided under the agreement or the revenues generated by the sale of such commodities (if such commodities are sold), will be integrated into the overall development plans of the country to improve food security and agricultural development, alleviate poverty, and promote broad-based, equitable, and sustainable agriculture and broad-based economic growth;
(3)with respect to agreements entered into under subchapters II and III–A, include a statement of the manner in which competitive private sector participation within the recipient country in the storage, marketing, transportation, and distribution of agricultural commodities made available under this chapter will be encouraged;
(4)include a statement that such agreement shall be subject to the availability, during each fiscal year to which the agreement applies, of the necessary appropriations and agricultural commodities; and
(5)contain such other terms and conditions as the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, determines to be necessary.
(c)(1)Agreements to provide assistance on a multi-year basis to recipient countries or to eligible organizations—
(A)may be made available under subchapters II and III–A; and
(B)shall be made available under subchapter III.
(2)The Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, may determine not to make assistance available on a multi-year basis with respect to a recipient country or an eligible organization if it is determined that assistance should be provided to such country or through such organization only on an annual basis because—
(A)the past performance of the country or organization in meeting program objectives does not warrant a multi-year agreement;
(B)it is anticipated that the need of the country or organization for food aid does not extend beyond 1 year; or
(C)other circumstances, as determined by the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, indicate there is only a need for a 1 year agreement.
(d)The Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, may make a determination to terminate, or refuse to enter into, a multi-year agreement with respect to a recipient country if the Secretary or the Administrator determines that such country is not fulfilling the objectives or requirements of this chapter. In making such a determination, the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, may consider the extent to which the country is—
(1)making significant economic development reforms;
(2)promoting free and open markets for food and agricultural producers; and
(3)fostering increased food security.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–127, § 214(1), inserted “with foreign countries” after “Before entering into agreements”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–127, § 214(2), inserted “with foreign countries” after “agreements entered into” and “and broad-based economic growth” before semicolon at end. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–127, § 214(3), added par. (1) and struck out heading and text of former par. (1). Text read as follows: “Agreements to provide assistance on a multi-year basis under this chapter shall be made available to recipient countries or to eligible organizations.” 1990—Pub. L. 101–624 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions outlining aims of assistance programs, namely humanitarian and national interest objectives, and requiring assessments of recipient countries to determine types and quantities of commodities needed, conditions under which distribution should take place, most suitable timing for delivery, etc. 1979—Pub. L. 96–53 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted provisions relating to aims of programs of assistance conducted under this chapter and section 1427 and 1431 of this title and the types and quantities of agricultural commodities to be made available, for provisions relating to aims of assistance programs undertaken pursuant to this chapter and section 1427 and 1431 of this title, and added subsec. (b). 1966—Pub. L. 89–808 substituted provision declaratory of aims of assistance programs as the attainment of humanitarian objectives and the national interest for provisions requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to maximize the sale of commodities and avoid displacement of cash sales, now provided for by section 1703(n) and 1707(b) of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–624 effective Jan. 1, 1991, see section 1513 of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as a note under section 1691 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–53 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 512(a) of Pub. L. 96–53, set out as a note under section 2151 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date

of 1966 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 89–808 effective Jan. 1, 1967, see section 5 of Pub. L. 89–808, set out as a note under section 1691 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 1734

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73