Collapse to view only § 4452. United States-Israel trade and commercial enhancement
- § 4451. Report on certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreements
- § 4452. United States-Israel trade and commercial enhancement
- § 4453. Report on compliance with prohibition on importation of goods made with convict, forced, or indentured labor
- § 4454. Trade preferences for Nepal
§ 4451. Report on certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreements
(a) In generalNot later than one year after entering into an agreement under a program specified in subsection (b), and annually thereafter until the termination of the program, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:
(1) A description of the development of the program, including an identification of the authority under which the program operates.
(2) A description of the type of entity with which U.S. Customs and Border Protection entered into the agreement and the amount that entity reimbursed U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the agreement.
(3) An identification of the type of port of entry to which the agreement relates and an assessment of how the agreement provides economic benefits and security benefits (if applicable) at the port of entry.
(4) A description of the services provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the agreement during the year preceding the submission of the report.
(5) The amount of fees collected under the agreement during that year.
(6) The total operating expenses of the program during that year.
(7) A detailed accounting of how the fees collected under the agreement have been spent during that year.
(8) A summary of any complaints or criticism received by U.S. Customs and Border Protection during that year regarding the agreement.
(9) An assessment of the compliance of the entity described in paragraph (2) with the terms of the agreement.
(10) Recommendations with respect to how activities conducted pursuant to the agreement could function more effectively or better produce economic benefits and security benefits (if applicable).
(11) A summary of the benefits to and challenges faced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the entity described in paragraph (2) under the agreement.
(12) If the entity described in paragraph (2) is an operator of an airport—
(A) a detailed account of the revenue collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport from—
(i) fees collected under the agreement; and
(ii) fees collected from sources other than under the agreement, including fees paid by passengers and air carriers; and
(B) an assessment of the revenue described in subparagraph (A) compared with the operating costs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport.
(b) Program specifiedA program specified in this subsection is—
(1) the program for entering into reimbursable fee agreements for the provision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection services established by section 560 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2013 (division D of Public Law 113–6; 127 Stat. 378);
(2) the pilot program authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enter into partnerships with private sector and government entities at ports of entry established by section 559 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 (division F of Public Law 113–76; 6 U.S.C. 211 note);
(3) the program under which U.S. Customs and Border Protection collects a fee for the use of customs services at designated facilities under section 58b of this title;
(4) the program established by subchapter VII of this chapter authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish preclearance operations in foreign countries; or
(5) the program for entering into reimbursable fee agreements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection established under section 301 of title 6.
(Pub. L. 114–125, title IX, § 907, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 234; Pub. L. 114–279, § 3, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1422.)
§ 4452. United States-Israel trade and commercial enhancement
(a) FindingsCongress finds the following:
(1) Israel is America’s dependable, democratic ally in the Middle East—an area of paramount strategic importance to the United States.
(2) The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement formed the modern foundation of the bilateral commercial relationship between the two countries and was the first such agreement signed by the United States with a foreign country.
(3) The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement has been instrumental in expanding commerce and the strategic relationship between the United States and Israel.
(4) More than $45,000,000,000 in goods and services is traded annually between the two countries, in addition to roughly $10,000,000,000 in United States foreign direct investment in Israel.
(5) The United States continues to look for and find new opportunities to enhance cooperation with Israel, including through the enactment of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–150; 22 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) and the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–296; 128 Stat. 4075).
(6) It has been the policy of the United States Government to combat all elements of the Arab League Boycott of Israel by—
(A) public statements of Administration officials;
(B) enactment of relevant sections of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.) (as continued in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)), including sections to ensure foreign persons comply with applicable reporting requirements relating to the Boycott;
(C) enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–455; 90 Stat. 1520) that denies certain tax benefits to entities abiding by the Boycott;
(D) ensuring through free trade agreements with Bahrain and Oman that such countries no longer participate in the Boycott; and
(E) ensuring as a condition of membership in the World Trade Organization that Saudi Arabia no longer enforces the secondary or tertiary elements of the Boycott.
(b) Statements of policyCongress—
(1) supports the strengthening of economic cooperation between the United States and Israel and recognizes the tremendous strategic, economic, and technological value of cooperation with Israel;
(2) recognizes the benefit of cooperation with Israel to United States companies, including by improving American competitiveness in global markets;
(3) recognizes the importance of trade and commercial relations to the pursuit and sustainability of peace, and supports efforts to bring together the United States, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and others in enhanced commerce;
(4) opposes politically motivated actions that penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with Israel, such as boycotts of, divestment from, or sanctions against Israel;
(5) notes that boycotts of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel by governments, governmental bodies, quasi-governmental bodies, international organizations, and other such entities are contrary to principle of nondiscrimination under the GATT 1994 (as defined in section 3501(1)(B) of this title);
(6) encourages the inclusion of politically motivated actions that penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with Israel such as boycotts of, divestment from, or sanctions against Israel as a topic of discussion at the U.S.-Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG) to support the strengthening of the United States-Israel commercial relationship and combat any commercial discrimination against Israel; and
(7) supports efforts to prevent investigations or prosecutions by governments or international organizations of United States persons solely on the basis of such persons doing business with Israel, with Israeli entities, or in any territory controlled by Israel.
(c) Principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States
(1) Commercial partnershipsAmong the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States for proposed trade agreements with foreign countries regarding commercial partnerships are the following:
(A) To discourage actions by potential trading partners that directly or indirectly prejudice or otherwise discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel.
(B) To discourage politically motivated boycotts of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel and to seek the elimination of politically motivated nontariff barriers on Israeli goods, services, or other commerce imposed on Israel.
(C) To seek the elimination of state-sponsored unsanctioned foreign boycotts of Israel, or compliance with the Arab League Boycott of Israel, by prospective trading partners.
(2) Effective date
(d) Report on politically motivated acts of boycott of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel
(1) In general
(2) Matters to be includedThe report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A description of the establishment of barriers to trade, including nontariff barriers, investment, or commerce by foreign countries or international organizations against United States persons operating or doing business in Israel, with Israeli entities, or in Israeli-controlled territories.
(B) A description of specific steps being taken by the United States to encourage foreign countries and international organizations to cease creating such barriers and to dismantle measures already in place, and an assessment of the effectiveness of such steps.
(C) A description of specific steps being taken by the United States to prevent investigations or prosecutions by governments or international organizations of United States persons solely on the basis of such persons doing business with Israel, with Israeli entities, or in Israeli-controlled territories.
(D) Decisions by foreign persons, including corporate entities and state-affiliated financial institutions, that limit or prohibit economic relations with Israel or persons doing business in Israel or in any territory controlled by Israel.
(e) Certain foreign judgments against United States persons
(f) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Boycott of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel
(2) Domestic court
(3) Foreign court
(4) Foreign judgment
(5) Foreign personThe term “foreign person” means—
(A) an individual who is not a United States person or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the United States; or
(B) a corporation, partnership, or other nongovernmental entity which is not a United States person.
(6) Person
(A) In generalThe term “person” means—
(i) a natural person;
(ii) a corporation, business association, partnership, society, trust, financial institution, insurer, underwriter, guarantor, and any other business organization, any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group, and any governmental entity operating as a business enterprise; and
(iii) any successor to any entity described in clause (ii).
(B) Application to governmental entities
(7) United States personThe term “United States person” means—
(A) a natural person who is a national of the United States (as defined in section 1101(a)(22) of title 8); or
(B) a corporation or other legal entity that is organized under the laws of the United States, any State or territory thereof, or the District of Columbia, if natural persons described in subparagraph (A) own, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the outstanding capital stock or other beneficial interest in such legal entity.
(Pub. L. 114–125, title IX, § 909, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 236.)
§ 4453. Report on compliance with prohibition on importation of goods made with convict, forced, or indentured labor
Not later than 180 days after February 24, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report on compliance with section 1307 of this title that includes the following:
(1) The number of instances in which merchandise was denied entry pursuant to that section during the 1-year period preceding the submission of the report.
(2) A description of the merchandise denied entry pursuant to that section.
(3) Such other information as the Commissioner considers appropriate with respect to monitoring and enforcing compliance with that section.
(Pub. L. 114–125, title IX, § 910(b), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 239.)
§ 4454. Trade preferences for Nepal
(a) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Nepal is among the least developed countries in the world, with a per capita gross national income of $730 in 2014.
(2) Nepal suffered a devastating earthquake in April 2015, with subsequent aftershocks. More than 9,000 people died and approximately 23,000 people were injured.
(b) Eligibility requirements
(1) In general
The President may authorize the provision of preferential treatment under this section to articles that are imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States pursuant to subsection (c) if the President determines—
(A) that Nepal meets the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 3703(a) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title; and(B) after taking into account the factors set forth in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462), that Nepal meets the eligibility requirements of such section 502.
(2) Withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of preferential treatment; mandatory graduation
(c) Eligible articles
(1) In general
(2) Articles described
(A) In general
An article is described in this paragraph if—
(i)(I) the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal; and(II) in the case of a textile or apparel article, Nepal is the country of origin of the article, as determined under section 102.21 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before February 24, 2016);
(ii) the article is imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States;
(iii) the article is classified under any of the following subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (as in effect on the day before February 24, 2016):
4202.11.00 | 4202.22.60 | 4202.92.08 |
4202.12.20 | 4202.22.70 | 4202.92.15 |
4202.12.40 | 4202.22.80 | 4202.92.20 |
4202.12.60 | 4202.29.50 | 4202.92.30 |
4202.12.80 | 4202.29.90 | 4202.92.45 |
4202.21.60 | 4202.31.60 | 4202.92.60 |
4202.21.90 | 4202.32.40 | 4202.92.90 |
4202.22.15 | 4202.32.80 | 4202.99.90 |
4202.22.40 | 4202.32.95 | 4203.29.50 |
4202.22.45 | 4202.91.00 | |
5701.10.90 | 5702.91.30 | 5703.10.80 |
5702.31.20 | 5702.91.40 | 5703.90.00 |
5702.49.20 | 5702.92.90 | 5705.00.20 |
5702.50.40 | 5702.99.15 | |
5702.50.59 | 5703.10.20 | |
6117.10.60 | 6214.20.00 | 6217.10.85 |
6117.80.85 | 6214.40.00 | 6301.90.00 |
6214.10.10 | 6214.90.00 | 6308.00.00 |
6214.10.20 | 6216.00.80 | |
6504.00.90 | 6505.00.30 | 6505.00.90 |
6505.00.08 | 6505.00.40 | 6506.99.30 |
6505.00.15 | 6505.00.50 | 6506.99.60 |
6505.00.20 | 6505.00.60 | |
6505.00.25 | 6505.00.80 |
(iv) the President determines, after receiving the advice of the United States International Trade Commission in accordance with section 503(e) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(e)), that the article is not import-sensitive in the context of imports from Nepal; and
(v) subject to subparagraph (C), the sum of the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the direct costs of processing operations performed in, Nepal or the customs territory of the United States is not less than 35 percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered.
(B) Exclusions
An article shall not be treated as the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)(I) by virtue of having merely undergone—
(i) simple combining or packaging operations; or
(ii) mere dilution with water or mere dilution with another substance that does not materially alter the characteristics of the article.
(C) Limitation on United States cost
(3) Verification with respect to transshipment for textile and apparel articles
(A) In general
(B) Report to President
(d) Trade facilitation and capacity building
(1) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(A) As a land-locked least-developed country, Nepal has severe challenges reaching markets and developing capacity to export goods. As of 2015, exports from Nepal are approximately $800,000,000 per year, with India the major market at $450,000,000 annually. The United States imports about $80,000,000 worth of goods from Nepal, or 10 percent of the total goods exported from Nepal.
(B) The World Bank has found evidence that the overall export competitiveness of Nepal has been declining since 2005. Indices compiled by the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that export costs in Nepal are high with respect to both air cargo and container shipments relative to other low-income countries. Such indices also identify particular weaknesses in Nepal with respect to automation of customs and other trade functions, involvement of local exporters and importers in preparing regulations and trade rules, and export finance.
(C) Implementation by Nepal of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade Organization could directly address some of the weaknesses described in subparagraph (B).
(2) Establishment of trade facilitation and capacity building program
(A) to enhance the central export promotion agency of Nepal to support successful exporters and to build awareness among potential exporters in Nepal about opportunities abroad and ways to manage trade documentation and regulations in the United States and other countries;
(B) to provide export finance training for financial institutions in Nepal and the Government of Nepal;
(C) to assist the Government of Nepal in maintaining publication on the Internet of all trade regulations, forms for exporters and importers, tax and tariff rates, and other documentation relating to exporting goods and developing a robust public-private dialogue, through its National Trade Facilitation Committee, for Nepal to identify timelines for implementation of key reforms and solutions, as provided for under the Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade Organization; and
(D) to increase access to guides for importers and exporters, through publication of such guides on the Internet, including rules and documentation for United States tariff preference programs.
(e) Reporting requirement
(f) Termination of preferential treatment
(g) Effective date
(Pub. L. 114–125, title IX, § 915, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 276.)