§4452 United States-israel Trade and Commercial Enhancement

Summary

Requires the United States to protect and deepen trade and business ties with Israel. It says Israel is a key U.S. ally and that the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement was the first U.S. free trade deal. The law notes more than $45,000,000,000 in goods and services trade each year and about $10,000,000,000 in U.S. investment in Israel. It says the U.S. must oppose politically driven boycotts, divestment, or sanctions that single out Israel, push trade partners to stop such actions, and raise the topic at U.S.-Israel economic talks. For trade negotiations, the U.S. must aim to stop foreign actions that hurt U.S.-Israel commerce and to remove state-sponsored or other boycotts. That part takes effect on February 24, 2016 and applies to talks before, on, or after that date. The President must give Congress a report within 180 days after February 24, 2016 and then every year describing trade barriers, U.S. efforts to stop them, steps to protect U.S. people from investigations for doing business with Israel, and decisions by foreign companies or banks to limit ties with Israel. No U.S. court may enforce a foreign civil judgment against a U.S. person if the court finds the judgment is based, in whole or in part, on the person doing business in Israel or in territories controlled by Israel. Key terms (one line each): “Boycott of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel” — politically motivated actions to penalize commerce with Israel; “Domestic court” — a U.S. federal or state court; “Foreign court” — a court or tribunal in another country; “Foreign judgment” — a final civil judgment by a foreign court; “Foreign person” — a non-U.S. individual or entity; “Person” — a natural person or a business or similar organization (but not a government acting as a business); “United States person” — a U.S. national or an entity organized in the U.S. that is more than 50% owned by U.S. nationals.