Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-110
§2542 Establishment and Operation of Technical Offices
Title 19 › CHAPTER 13 — TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979 › SUBCHAPTER II — TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS) › Part B — Functions of Federal Agencies › § 2542
Summary
The Commerce Department must have a technical office for nonagricultural products, and the Agriculture Department must have one for agricultural products. The President decides what duties each office must carry out to implement this part of the law.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §2542
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Establishment
(1)For nonagricultural products
The Secretary of Commerce shall establish and maintain within the Department of Commerce a technical office that shall carry out the functions prescribed under subsection (b) with respect to nonagricultural products.
(2)For agricultural products
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish and maintain within the Department of Agriculture a technical office that shall carry out the functions prescribed under subsection (b) with respect to agricultural products.
(b)Functions of offices
The President shall prescribe for each technical office established under subsection (a) such functions as the President deems necessary or appropriate to implement this subchapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions Functions of President under subsec. (b) of this section delegated to Secretary of Commerce regarding technical office established under subsec. (a)(1) of this section, and to Secretary of Agriculture regarding technical office established under subsec. (a)(2) of this section, see section 1–103(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 990, set out as a note under section 2171 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 2542
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110