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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§4342 Limitations on Disposition of Personal Prop­erty

Title 22 › CHAPTER 53A — DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ABROAD › § 4342

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Employees and their family must not sell, give away, or otherwise get rid of personal items in a foreign country if those items were brought in or bought there and received special import or tax breaks because of the employee’s official status. The chief of mission (the U.S. official in charge at the post) or someone they choose can approve such sales if they follow the department’s rules. Breaking these rules, or selling items that violate local or international law, can lead to disciplinary action.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4342

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General rule
Except as authorized under subsection (b), employees or members of their family shall not sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of personal property within a foreign country which was imported into or purchased within that foreign country and which, by virtue of the official status of the employee, was exempt from import limitation, customs duties, or taxes which would otherwise apply.
(b)Approval by chief of mission
The chief of mission to a foreign country, or a designee of such chief of mission, is authorized to approve within that foreign country sales, assignment, or other dispositions of property by employees under the chief of mission’s jurisdiction (as described in section 3927 of this title) to the extent that such sale, assignment, or other disposition is in accordance with regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to section 4343 of this title.
(c)Violation
Violation of this section, or other importation, sale, or other disposition of personal property within a foreign country which violates its laws or regulations or governing international law and is prohibited by regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to section 4343 of this title, shall be grounds for disciplinary action against an employee.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 186(b) of Pub. L. 100–204, set out as a note under section 4741 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4342

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110