7 U.S.C. § 1765a: Agricultural Trade Offices

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must set up between 6 and 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices in other countries to help grow markets for U.S. farm products. The Secretary must talk with the Secretary of State before opening them. Each office is run by an Agricultural Trade Officer chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture who is trained and experienced for the job. These officers can be hired and paid without following the usual civil service hiring and pay rules, but their pay cannot be higher than the maximum yearly rate for GS‑17 under section 5332 or higher than the top pay of the Agricultural Counselor or Attaché in that country. The officer runs the office and its staff, keeps the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission fully informed through the Agricultural Counselor or Attaché, and may hire other U.S. staff and local nationals with State Department agreement. Employees must avoid any outside work that conflicts with their duties, and the Secretary of State should be asked to seek diplomatic privileges and immunities like those of similar Foreign Service members.

Title 7, §1765a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment

For the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities, the Secretary of Agriculture, after consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish not less than six nor more than twenty-five United States Agricultural Trade Offices in other nations.

(b)Administration

each United States Agricultural Trade Office shall be directed and administered by an Agricultural Trade Officer who by reason of training, experience, and attainments is qualified to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Such Officer shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(c)Appointment and compensation of officers

Each Agricultural Trade Officer may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no Agricultural Trade Officer (1) may be paid basic pay at a rate in excess of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–17 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title, or (2) may be paid at a rate in excess of the highest rate paid to an Agricultural Counselor or Attaché, as the case may be, who is appointed under subchapter I of this chapter to the nation in which such Officer is to serve.

(d)Transmittal of information

Each Agricultural Trade Officer shall, through the Agricultural Counselor or Attaché or other senior representative of the Secretary of Agriculture in each nation in which the United States Agricultural Trade Office administered by such Officer exercises its functions, keep the Chief of the United States diplomatic mission fully and currently informed with respect to all activities and operations of such Office.

(e)Office functions and activities

Each Agricultural Trade Officer shall be responsible for the exercise of the functions of the United States Agricultural Trade Office, and shall have the authority to direct and supervise all personnel and activities thereof.

(f)Personnel; employment of local nationals

To carry out the functions of United States Agricultural Trade Offices, the Secretary of Agriculture may appoint such other personnel as the Secretary determines to be necessary and may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, assign such personnel abroad and employ local nationals for necessary professional and clerical help.

(g)Conflicts of interest

No employee of any United States Agricultural Trade Office may engage in any business, vocation, or other employment, or have other interests, that are inconsistent with official responsibilities.

(h)Diplomatic privileges and immunities

Upon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State shall request for Agricultural Trade Officers and personnel of United States Agricultural Trade Offices diplomatic privileges and immunities equivalent to those enjoyed by members of the Foreign Service of comparable rank and salary.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1980—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 96–465 substituted “members of the Foreign Service” for “Foreign Service Personnel”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay RatesReferences in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.

§1765a Agricultural Trade Offices

Summary

Title 7, §1765a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata