Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§6443 Consultations

Title 22 › CHAPTER 73 — INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM › SUBCHAPTER III — PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS › Part A — Targeted Responses to Violations of Religious Freedom Abroad › § 6443

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the President decides to take action about serious religious freedom abuses, or within 90 days after naming a country a "country of particular concern," the President must begin consultations as soon as possible. The President must ask that country's government to talk about the abuses and, if the country agrees, hold talks privately or in public. The President can also seek talks in multilateral groups and must try to coordinate with other governments before acting. If revealing talks would harm progress, the President may keep them secret from the public but must tell the proper congressional committees what is happening. The President should also talk with humanitarian and religious groups about how U.S. steps might affect people on the ground. The President must, when appropriate, consult U.S. businesses and other interested parties about how actions could affect U.S. economic or other interests.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §6443

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

As soon as practicable after the President decides to take action under section 6441 of this title in response to violations of religious freedom and the President decides to take action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of section 6445(a) of this title (or commensurate action in substitution thereto) with respect to that country, or not later than 90 days after the President designates a country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under section 6442 of this title, as the case may be, the President shall carry out the consultations required in this section.

(b)Duty to consult with foreign governments prior to taking Presidential actions

(1)In general

The President shall—

(A)request consultation with the government of such country regarding the violations giving rise to designation of that country as a country of particular concern for religious freedom or to Presidential action under section 6441 of this title; and

(B)if agreed to, enter into such consultations, privately or publicly.

(2)Use of multilateral fora

If the President determines it to be appropriate, such consultations may be sought and may occur in a multilateral forum, but, in any event, the President shall consult with appropriate foreign governments for the purposes of achieving a coordinated international policy on actions that may be taken with respect to a country described in subsection (a), prior to implementing any such action.

(3)Election of nondisclosure of negotiations to public

If negotiations are undertaken or an agreement is concluded with a foreign government regarding steps to cease the pattern of violations by that government, and if public disclosure of such negotiations or agreement would jeopardize the negotiations or the implementation of such agreement, as the case may be, the President may refrain from disclosing such negotiations and such agreement to the public, except that the President shall inform the appropriate congressional committees of the nature and extent of such negotiations and any agreement reached.

(c)Duty to consult with humanitarian organizations

The President should consult with appropriate humanitarian and religious organizations concerning the potential impact of United States policies to promote freedom of religion in countries described in subsection (a).

(d)Duty to consult with United States interested parties

The President shall, as appropriate, consult with United States interested parties as to the potential impact of intended Presidential action or actions in countries described in subsection (a) on economic or other interests of the United States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 6443

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110