19 U.S.C. § 2903

Implementation of trade agreements

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(a) In general(1) Any agreement entered into under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title shall enter into force with respect to the United States if (and only if)—(A) the President, at least 90 calendar days before the day on which he enters into the trade agreement, notifies the House of Representatives and the Senate of his intention to enter into the agreement, and promptly thereafter publishes notice of such intention in the Federal Register;(B) after entering into the agreement, the President submits a document to the House of Representatives and to the Senate containing a copy of the final legal text of the agreement, together with—(i) a draft of an implementing bill,(ii) a statement of any administrative action proposed to implement the trade agreement, and(iii) the supporting information described in paragraph (2); and(C) the implementing bill is enacted into law.(2) The supporting information required under paragraph (1)(B)(iii) consists of—(A) an explanation as to how the implementing bill and proposed administrative action will change or affect existing law; and(B) a statement—(i) asserting that the agreement makes progress in achieving the applicable purposes, policies, and objectives of this title,(ii) setting forth the reasons of the President regarding—(I) how and to what extent the agreement makes progress in achieving the applicable purposes, policies, and objectives referred to in clause (i), and why and to what extent the agreement does not achieve other applicable purposes, policies, and objectives,(II) how the agreement serves the interests of United States commerce, and(III) why the implementing bill and proposed administrative action is required or appropriate to carry out the agreement;(iii) describing the efforts made by the President to obtain international exchange rate equilibrium and any effect the agreement may have regarding increased international monetary stability; and(iv) describing the extent, if any, to which—(I) each foreign country that is a party to the agreement maintains non-commercial state trading enterprises that may adversely affect, nullify, or impair the benefits to the United States under the agreement, and(II) the agreement applies to or affects purchases and sales by such enterprises.(3) To ensure that a foreign country which receives benefits under a trade agreement entered into under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title is subject to the obligations imposed by such agreement, the President shall recommend to Congress in the implementing bill and statement of administrative action submitted with respect to such agreement that the benefits and obligations of such agreement apply solely to the parties to such agreement, if such application is consistent with the terms of such agreement. The President may also recommend with respect to any such agreement that the benefits and obligations of such agreement not apply uniformly to all parties to such agreement, if such application is consistent with the terms of such agreement.(b) Application of Congressional “fast track” procedures to implementing bills(1) Except as provided in subsection (c)—(A) the provisions of section 2191 of this title (hereinafter in this section referred to as “fast track procedures”) apply to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements entered into under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title before June 1, 1991; and(B) such fast track procedures shall be extended to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements entered into under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title after May 31, 1991, and before June 1, 1993, if (and only if)—(i) the President requests such extension under paragraph (2); and(ii) neither House of the Congress adopts an extension disapproval resolution under paragraph (5) before June 1, 1991.(2) If the President is of the opinion that the fast track procedures should be extended to implementing bills described in paragraph (1)(B), the President must submit to the Congress, no later than March 1, 1991, a written report that contains a request for such extension, together with—(A) a description of all trade agreements that have been negotiated under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title and the anticipated schedule for submitting such agreements to the Congress for approval;(B) a description of the progress that has been made in multilateral and bilateral negotiations to achieve the purposes, policies, and objectives of this title, and a statement that such progress justifies the continuation of negotiations; and(C) a statement of the reasons why the extension is needed to complete the negotiations.(3) The President shall promptly inform the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations established under section 2155 of this title of his decision to submit a report to Congress under paragraph (2). The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Congress as soon as practicable, but no later than March 1, 1991, a written report that contains—(A) its views regarding the progress that has been made in multilateral and bilateral negotiations to achieve the purposes, policies, and objectives of this title; and(B) a statement of its views, and the reasons therefor, regarding whether the extension requested under paragraph (2) should be approved or disapproved.(4) The reports submitted to the Congress under paragraphs (2) and (3), or any portion of the reports, may be classified to the extent the President determines appropriate.(5)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term “extension disapproval resolution” means a resolution of either House of the Congress, the sole matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That the disapproves the request of the President for the extension, under section 1103(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, of the provisions of section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974 to any implementing bill submitted with respect to any trade agreement entered into under section 1102(b) or (c) of such Act after May 31, 1991, because sufficient tangible progress has not been made in trade negotiations.”, with the blank space being filled with the name of the resolving House of the Congress.(B) Extension disapproval resolutions—(i) may be introduced in either House of the Congress by any member of such House; and(ii) shall be jointly referred, in the House of Representatives, to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules.(C) The provisions of section 2192(d) and (e) of this title (relating to the floor consideration of certain resolutions in the House and Senate) apply to extension disapproval resolutions.(D) It is not in order for—(i) the Senate to consider any extension disapproval resolution not reported by the Committee on Finance;(ii) the House of Representatives to consider any extension disapproval resolution not reported by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules; or(iii) either House of the Congress to consider an extension disapproval resolution that is reported to such House after May 15, 1991.(c) Limitations on use of “fast track” procedures(1)(A) The fast track procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement entered into under section 2902(b) or (c) of this title if both Houses of the Congress separately agree to procedural disapproval resolutions within any 60-day period.(B) Procedural disapproval resolutions—(i) in the House of Representatives—(I) shall be introduced by the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules,(II) shall be jointly referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules, and(III) may not be amended by either Committee; and(ii) in the Senate shall be original resolutions of the Committee on Finance.(C) The provisions of section 2192(d) and (e) of this title (relating to the floor consideration of certain resolutions in the House and Senate) apply to procedural disapproval resolutions.(D) It is not in order for the House of Representatives to consider any procedural disapproval resolution not reported by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules.(E) For purposes of this subsection, the term “procedural disapproval resolution” means a resolution of either House of the Congress, the sole matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That the President has failed or refused to consult with Congress on trade negotiations and trade agreements in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, and, therefore, the provisions of section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974 shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to any trade agreement entered into under section 1102(b) or (c) of such Act of 1988, if, during the 60-day period beginning on the date on which this resolution is agreed to by the , the agrees to a procedural disapproval resolution (within the meaning of section 1103(c)(1)(E) of such Act of 1988).”, with the first blank space being filled with the name of the resolving House of the Congress and the second blank space being filled with the name of the other House of the Congress.(2) The fast track procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill that contains a provision approving of any trade agreement which is entered into under section 2902(c) of this title with any foreign country if either—(A) the requirements of section 2902(c)(3) of this title are not met with respect to the negotiation of such agreement; or(B) the Committee on Finance of the Senate or the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives disapproves of the negotiation of such agreement before the close of the 60-day period which begins on the date notice is provided under section 2902(c)(3)(C)(i) of this title with respect to the negotiation of such agreement.(d) Rules of House of Representatives and SenateSubsections (b) and (c) are enacted by the Congress—(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, and such procedures supersede other rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent with such other rules; and(2) with the full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedures of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as any other rule of that House.(e) Computation of certain periods of timeEach period of time described in subsection (c)(1)(A) and (E) and (2) of this section shall be computed without regard to—(1) the days on which either House of Congress is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain or an adjournment of the Congress sine die; and(2) any Saturday and Sunday, not excluded under paragraph (1), when either House of the Congress is not in session.(Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1103, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1128.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

This title, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(B)(i) and (b)(2)(B), (3)(A), is title I (§ 1001 et seq.) of Pub. L. 100–418, see note below. For complete classification of this title to the Code, see Tables.

The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, referred to in subsecs. (b)(5)(A) and (c)(1)(E), is Pub. L. 100–418, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1107. Sections 1102(b) and (c) and 1103(b)(1)(B)(i) and (c)(1)(E) of such Act are classified to sections 2902(b) and (c) and 2903(b)(1)(B)(i) and (c)(1)(E) of this title, respectively. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsecs. (b)(5)(A) and (c)(1)(E), is classified to section 2191 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1992–2023 · leading case: Canadian Lumber Trade All. v. United States, 425 F. Supp. 2d 1321 (Ct. Intl. Trade 2006).

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Canadian Lumber Trade All. v. United States, 425 F. Supp. 2d 1321 (Ct. Intl. Trade 2006). · cites it 4× “19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1)(B), (i)-(iii); 36 see also *1360 19 U.”

Mississippi Poultry Ass'n, Inc. v. Edward R. Madigan, Sec'y of the United States Dep't of Agric., 31 F.3d 293 (5th Cir. 1994). · cites it 4× “2061 (citing § 1103 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (codified at 19 U.S.C. § 2903 ) and § 151 of the Trade Act of 1974 (codified at 19 U.”

Comm. Overseeing Action for Lumber Int'l Trade Investigations or Negotiations v. United States, 2020 CIT 167 (Ct. Intl. Trade 2020). · cites it 3× “23 See 19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1) (providing the conditions pursuant to which certain trade agreements, including the Uruguay Round Agreements, “shall enter into force with respect to the United States”); 24 S.”

Robert H. Michel v. Donnald K. Anderson, 14 F.3d 623 (D.C. Cir. 1994). “Indeed, under the “fast track” legislation, see 19 U.S.C. § 2903 (1988 & Supp.1991), a procedural device passed by each House as an exercise of rulemaking power, the President may submit various treaties to the two Houses for ratification on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.”

Pub. Citizen v. Off. of the United States Trade Representatives, 970 F.2d 916 (D.C. Cir. 1992). “19 U.S.C. § 2903 (b)(1)(B); see 137 Cong.”

Pub. Citizen Friends of the Earth, Inc. Sierra Club v. United States Trade Rep., 5 F.3d 549 (D.C. Cir. 1993). “19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1)(B). The President is not obligated to submit any agreement to Congress, and until he does there is no final action.”

Comm. Overseeing Action for Lumber v. United States, 66 F.4th 968 (Fed. Cir. 2023). “The President, following the fast-track legislative procedure of 19 U.S.C. §§ 2903 and 2191–2193, submitted legislation to Congress—along with a statement of admin- istrative action proposed to implement the agreements, H.”

Tembec, Inc. v. United States, 441 F. Supp. 2d 1302 (Ct. Intl. Trade 2006). “See 19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1)(B) (distinguishing between trade agreements, such as the URA, legislation implementing an agreement, such as the URAA, and Congressional approval of an agreement).”

Kemet Elec. Corp. v. Barshefsky, 976 F. Supp. 1012 (Ct. Intl. Trade 1997). “Agreements to reduce tariffs beyond the limits in the President’s proclamation authority, and non-tariff barrier agreements, were implemented by “fast track” legislation under 19 U.S.C. § 2903 (1994). “Fast track” implementation of Uruguay Round tariff rate reductions that…”

Pub. Citizen v. Off. of the United States Trade Rep., 822 F. Supp. 21 (D.D.C. 1993). · cites it 2× “19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1)(B). The NAFTA must be approved by both Houses of Congress before it can become effective, and such approval occurs when the NAFTA’s implementing legislation has been enacted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”

Former Employees of Quality Fabricating, Inc. v. United States Sec'y of Labor, 448 F.3d 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2006). “The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, codified at 19 U.S.C. § 2903 , and section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974, codified at 19 U.”

Pub. Citizen v. Kantor, 864 F. Supp. 208 (D.D.C. 1994). “3d at 551 {citing 19 U.S.C. § 2903 (a)(1)(B)). Public Citizen does not dispute that the Uruguay Round agreement is subject to all of the statutory provisions and all of the *212 presidential discretion that applied to the earlier NAFTA agreement.”

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