Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-110
§4202 Trade Agreements Authority
Title 19 › CHAPTER 27 — BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY › § 4202
Summary
The President can make trade deals and change import duties or other trade limits when those rules are hurting U.S. trade or when such deals would support the goals of the trade law. The President may negotiate and, before either July 1, 2018 or (if Congress agrees to extend special rules) July 1, 2021, enter agreements and proclaim changes needed to carry them out. The President must tell Congress before starting an agreement. There are limits: duties cannot be cut below half of what they were on June 29, 2015 (except for duties that were 5% or less on that date), cannot be cut below the Uruguay Round level for sensitive farm products, and cannot be raised above the June 29, 2015 level. Duty reductions are usually phased in each year by either 3% ad valorem or one-tenth of the total cut, whichever is larger, unless the product is not made in the United States. The President can round annual cuts by up to 0.5% to simplify math. Any reductions barred by those limits can only take effect if Congress passes an implementing law. The President may also make agreements to remove or limit non-tariff trade barriers when they hurt U.S. trade or the economy. Such agreements must meet the law’s objectives and other required conditions. If changes in U.S. law are needed, Congress considers an implementing bill under the special “trade authorities” process. To extend those fast-track procedures to agreements made after June 30, 2018 and before July 1, 2021, the President had to ask Congress by April 1, 2018, and Congress could block the extension by passing a specific disapproval resolution before July 1, 2018. The President must also start talks, when useful and timely, on tariffs and non-tariff barriers in many sectors, including agriculture, services, intellectual property, industrial goods, government buying, information technology, environmental and medical technology, civil aircraft, and infrastructure.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §4202
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Agreements regarding tariff barriers
(1)In general
Whenever the President determines that one or more existing duties or other import restrictions of any foreign country or the United States are unduly burdening and restricting the foreign trade of the United States and that the purposes, policies, priorities, and objectives of this chapter will be promoted thereby, the President—
(A)may enter into trade agreements with foreign countries before—
(i)July 1, 2018; or
(ii)July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended under subsection (c); and
(B)may, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), proclaim—
(i)such modification or continuance of any existing duty,
(ii)such continuance of existing duty free or excise treatment, or
(iii)such additional duties,
as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out any such trade agreement.
Substantial modifications to, or substantial additional provisions of, a trade agreement entered into after July 1, 2018, or July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended under subsection (c), shall not be eligible for approval under this chapter.
(2)Notification
The President shall notify Congress of the President’s intention to enter into an agreement under this subsection.
(3)Limitations
No proclamation may be made under paragraph (1) that—
(A)reduces any rate of duty (other than a rate of duty that does not exceed 5 percent ad valorem on June 29, 2015) to a rate of duty which is less than 50 percent of the rate of such duty that applies on June 29, 2015;
(B)reduces the rate of duty below that applicable under the Uruguay Round Agreements or a successor agreement, on any import sensitive agricultural product; or
(C)increases any rate of duty above the rate that applied on June 29, 2015.
(4)Aggregate reduction; exemption from staging
(A)Aggregate reduction
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the aggregate reduction in the rate of duty on any article which is in effect on any day pursuant to a trade agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall not exceed the aggregate reduction which would have been in effect on such day if—
(i)a reduction of 3 percent ad valorem or a reduction of ⅒ of the total reduction, whichever is greater, had taken effect on the effective date of the first reduction proclaimed under paragraph (1) to carry out such agreement with respect to such article; and
(ii)a reduction equal to the amount applicable under clause (i) had taken effect at 1-year intervals after the effective date of such first reduction.
(B)Exemption from staging
No staging is required under subparagraph (A) with respect to a duty reduction that is proclaimed under paragraph (1) for an article of a kind that is not produced in the United States. The United States International Trade Commission shall advise the President of the identity of articles that may be exempted from staging under this subparagraph.
(5)Rounding
If the President determines that such action will simplify the computation of reductions under paragraph (4), the President may round an annual reduction by an amount equal to the lesser of— (A)
(B)½ of 1 percent ad valorem.
(6)Other limitations
A rate of duty reduction that may not be proclaimed by reason of paragraph (3) may take effect only if a provision authorizing such reduction is included within an implementing bill provided for under section 4205 of this title and that bill is enacted into law.
(7)Other tariff modifications
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)(B), (3)(A), (3)(C), and (4) through (6), and subject to the consultation and layover requirements of section 115 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3524), the President may proclaim the modification of any duty or staged rate reduction of any duty set forth in Schedule XX, as defined in section 2(5) of that Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(5)), if the United States agrees to such modification or staged rate reduction in a negotiation for the reciprocal elimination or harmonization of duties under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.
(8)Authority under Uruguay Round Agreements Act not affected
Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority provided to the President under section 111(b) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3521(b)).
(b)Agreements regarding tariff and nontariff barriers
(1)In general
(A)Whenever the President determines that—
(i)1 or more existing duties or any other import restriction of any foreign country or the United States or any other barrier to, or other distortion of, international trade unduly burdens or restricts the foreign trade of the United States or adversely affects the United States economy, or
(ii)the imposition of any such barrier or distortion is likely to result in such a burden, restriction, or effect,
and that the purposes, policies, priorities, and objectives of this chapter will be promoted thereby, the President may enter into a trade agreement described in subparagraph (B) during the period described in subparagraph (C).
(B)The President may enter into a trade agreement under subparagraph (A) with foreign countries providing for—
(i)the reduction or elimination of a duty, restriction, barrier, or other distortion described in subparagraph (A); or
(ii)the prohibition of, or limitation on the imposition of, such barrier or other distortion.
(C)The President may enter into a trade agreement under this paragraph before—
(i)July 1, 2018; or
(ii)July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended under subsection (c).
Substantial modifications to, or substantial additional provisions of, a trade agreement entered into after July 1, 2018, or July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended under subsection (c), shall not be eligible for approval under this chapter.
(2)Conditions
A trade agreement may be entered into under this subsection only if such agreement makes progress in meeting the applicable objectives described in subsections (a) and (b) of section 4201 of this title and the President satisfies the conditions set forth in section 4203 and 4204 of this title.
(3)Bills qualifying for trade authorities procedures
(A)The provisions of section 2191 of this title (in this chapter referred to as “trade authorities procedures”) apply to a bill of either House of Congress which contains provisions described in subparagraph (B) to the same extent as such section 2191 applies to implementing bills under that section. A bill to which this paragraph applies shall hereafter in this chapter be referred to as an “implementing bill”.
(B)The provisions referred to in subparagraph (A) are—
(i)a provision approving a trade agreement entered into under this subsection and approving the statement of administrative action, if any, proposed to implement such trade agreement; and
(ii)if changes in existing laws or new statutory authority are required to implement such trade agreement or agreements, only such provisions as are strictly necessary or appropriate to implement such trade agreement or agreements, either repealing or amending existing laws or providing new statutory authority.
(c)Extension disapproval process for congressional trade authorities procedures
(1)In general
Except as provided in section 4205(b) of this title—
(A)the trade authorities procedures apply to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements entered into under subsection (b) before July 1, 2018; and
(B)the trade authorities procedures shall be extended to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements entered into under subsection (b) after June 30, 2018, and before July 1, 2021, if (and only if)—
(i)the President requests such extension under paragraph (2); and
(ii)neither House of Congress adopts an extension disapproval resolution under paragraph (5) before July 1, 2018.
(2)Report to Congress by the President
If the President is of the opinion that the trade authorities procedures should be extended to implementing bills described in paragraph (1)(B), the President shall submit to Congress, not later than April 1, 2018, a written report that contains a request for such extension, together with—
(A)a description of all trade agreements that have been negotiated under subsection (b) and the anticipated schedule for submitting such agreements to Congress for approval;
(B)a description of the progress that has been made in negotiations to achieve the purposes, policies, priorities, and objectives of this chapter, and a statement that such progress justifies the continuation of negotiations; and
(C)a statement of the reasons why the extension is needed to complete the negotiations.
(3)Other reports to Congress
(A)Report by the Advisory Committee
The President shall promptly inform the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations established under section 2155 of this title of the decision of the President to submit a report to Congress under paragraph (2). The Advisory Committee shall submit to Congress as soon as practicable, but not later than June 1, 2018, a written report that contains—
(i)its views regarding the progress that has been made in negotiations to achieve the purposes, policies, priorities, and objectives of this chapter; and
(ii)a statement of its views, and the reasons therefor, regarding whether the extension requested under paragraph (2) should be approved or disapproved.
(B)Report by International Trade Commission
The President shall promptly inform the United States International Trade Commission of the decision of the President to submit a report to Congress under paragraph (2). The International Trade Commission shall submit to Congress as soon as practicable, but not later than June 1, 2018, a written report that contains a review and analysis of the economic impact on the United States of all trade agreements implemented between June 29, 2015, and the date on which the President decides to seek an extension requested under paragraph (2).
(4)Status of reports
The reports submitted to Congress under paragraphs (2) and (3), or any portion of such reports, may be classified to the extent the President determines appropriate.
(5)Extension disapproval resolutions
(A)For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “extension disapproval resolution” means a resolution of either House of Congress, the sole matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That the ____ disapproves the request of the President for the extension, under section 103(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, of the trade authorities procedures under that Act to any implementing bill submitted with respect to any trade agreement entered into under section 103(b) of that Act after June 30, 2018.”, with the blank space being filled with the name of the resolving House of Congress.
(B)Extension disapproval resolutions—
(i)may be introduced in either House of Congress by any member of such House; and
(ii)shall be referred, in the House of Representatives, to the Committee on Ways and Means and, in addition, to the Committee on Rules.
(C)The provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of section 2192 of this title (relating to the floor consideration of certain resolutions in the House and Senate) apply to extension disapproval resolutions.
(D)It is not in order for—
(i)the House of Representatives to consider any extension disapproval resolution not reported by the Committee on Ways and Means and, in addition, by the Committee on Rules;
(ii)the Senate to consider any extension disapproval resolution not reported by the Committee on Finance; or
(iii)either House of Congress to consider an extension disapproval resolution after June 30, 2018.
(d)Commencement of negotiations
In order to contribute to the continued economic expansion of the United States, the President shall commence negotiations covering tariff and nontariff barriers affecting any industry, product, or service sector, and expand existing sectoral agreements to countries that are not parties to those agreements, in cases where the President determines that such negotiations are feasible and timely and would benefit the United States. Such sectors include agriculture, commercial services, intellectual property rights, industrial and capital goods, government procurement, information technology products, environmental technology and services, medical equipment and services, civil aircraft, and infrastructure products. In so doing, the President shall take into account all of the negotiating objectives set forth in section 4201 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 114–26, June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 320, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 4201 of this title and Tables. The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, referred to in subsec. (c)(5)(A), is title I of Pub. L. 114–26, June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 320, which is classified principally to this chapter. section 103 of the Act is classified to this section. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 4201 of this title and Tables.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions For delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 13701,
July 17, 2015, 80 F.R. 43903, set out as a note under section 4201 of this title, and Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 29, 2016, 81 F.R. 5571, set out below. Delegation of Certain Authority and Assignment of Certain Functions Under section 103(a)(1)(A) and section 103(b)(1) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 29, 2016, 81 F.R. 5571, provided: Memorandum for the United States Trade Representative In addition to the authorities and functions delegated and assigned to you by Executive Order 13701 of
July 17, 2015, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to you the authority to enter into trade agreements, reserved to the President in Executive Order 13701, under section 103(a)(1)(A) and section 103(b)(1) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–26, title I), and assign to you that function. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. Barack Obama.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 4202
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110