
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC4723a]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                     CHAPTER 73--EXPORT ENHANCEMENT
 
                    SUBCHAPTER III--EXPORT PROMOTION
 
Sec. 4723a. United States Commercial Centers


(a) Establishment

    The Secretary of Commerce, in his or her role as chairperson of the 
Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, is authorized and encouraged to 
establish United States Commercial Centers (hereinafter in this section 
referred to as ``Centers'') in Asia, in Latin America, and in Africa.

(b) Purpose of Centers

    The purpose of the Centers shall be to provide additional resources 
for the promotion of exports of United States goods and services to the 
host countries, by familiarizing United States exporters with the 
industries, markets, and customs of the host countries, thus 
facilitating commercial ties and trade.

(c) Functions of Centers

    Each Center shall--
        (1) collect and publish economic and market data with respect to 
    the host country;
        (2) provide, on a user-fee basis, preliminary technical and 
    clerical assistance, language translation, and administrative 
    assistance, and information regarding the legal systems, laws, 
    regulations, and procedures of the host country, to United States 
    exporters seeking to do business in the host country; and
        (3) in other ways promote exports of United States goods and 
    services to the host country.

(d) Specific services to be provided

    To carry out its objectives, each Center shall make available the 
following (on a user-fee basis):

                       (1) Business facilities

        Business facilities, including exhibition space, conference 
    rooms, office space (including telephones and other basic office 
    equipment), and, where warranted by impeding deficiencies in the 
    public system, high quality international telecommunications 
    facilities.

                        (2) Business services

        Business support services, including language translation 
    services, clerical services, and a commercial library containing a 
    comprehensive collection of reference materials covering United 
    States and host country industries and markets.

               (3) Commercial law information services

        Commercial law information services, including--
            (A) a clearinghouse for information regarding the relevant 
        commercial laws, practices, and regulations of the host country;
            (B) publications to assist United States businesses;
            (C) legal referral services; and
            (D) lists of local agents and distributors.

(e) Other trade promotion activities

    Each Center shall also promote United States export trade by--
        (1) facilitating contacts between buyers, sellers, bankers, 
    traders, distributors, agents, and necessary government officials 
    from the United States and the host country;
        (2) coordinating trade missions; and
        (3) assisting with applications, contracts, and clearances for 
    imports into the host country and exports from the United States.

(f) Staffing of Centers

    Each Center shall be staffed by members of the United States and 
Foreign Commercial Service, participants in the Market Development 
Cooperator Program established under section 4723 of this title, other 
employees of the Department of Commerce, and employees of appropriate 
executive branch departments and agencies which are members of the Trade 
Promotion Coordinating Committee.

(g) Center facilities and their relationship to United States Department 
        of Commerce operations in host countries

             (1) Physical accommodations for the Centers

        The Secretary of Commerce shall locate each Center in the 
    primary commercial city of the host country. The Secretary shall 
    acquire office space, exhibition space, and other facilities and 
    equipment that are necessary for each Center to perform its 
    functions. To the extent feasible, each Center shall be located in 
    the central commercial district of the host city.

     (2) Consolidation of Department of Commerce operations in 
                               host countries

        For the purpose of obtaining maximum effectiveness and 
    efficiency and to the extent consistent with the purposes of the 
    Centers, the Secretary of Commerce is encouraged to place all 
    personnel of the Department of Commerce who are assigned to the city 
    in which a Center is located in the same facilities as those in 
    which the Center conducts its activities.

(h) Use of Market Development Cooperator Program

    The Secretary of Commerce shall, to the greatest extent feasible, 
use the Market Development Cooperator Program established under section 
4723 of this title to assist in carrying out the purposes of the Centers 
established under this section.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
to carry out this section $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and 
$5,500,000 for fiscal year 1994. Funds made available under this 
subsection may be used for the acquisition of real property.

(j) Repealed. Pub. L. 104-66, title I, Sec. 1021(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 
        Stat. 712

(k) Definitions

    For purposes of this section--
        (1) the term ``United States exporter'' means--
            (A) a United States citizen,
            (B) a corporation, partnership, or other association created 
        under the laws of the United States or of any State, or
            (C) a foreign corporation, partnership, or other 
        association, more than 95 percent of which is owned by persons 
        described in subparagraphs (A) and (B),

    that exports, or seeks to export, goods or services produced in the 
    United States;
        (2) the term ``State'' means any of the several States, the 
    District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession 
    of the United States; and
        (3) the term ``United States'' means the several States, the 
    District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession 
    of the United States.

(Pub. L. 102-549, title IV, Sec. 401, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3661; 
Pub. L. 104-66, title I, Sec. 1021(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 712.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Jobs Through Exports Act of 1992, 
and not as part of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 which enacted this 
chapter.


                               Amendments

    1995--Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104-66 struck out heading and text of 
subsec. (j). Text read as follows: ``The Secretary of Commerce shall 
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
of the Senate, not later than 1 year after October 28, 1992, and not 
later than the end of each 1-year period occurring thereafter, a report 
on the status, activities, and effectiveness of the Centers. Each such 
report shall include any recommendations with respect to the program 
established under this section.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 4729 of this title.
