                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
                CHAPTER 13--TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979
 
         SUBCHAPTER II--TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS)
 
                  Part B--Functions of Federal Agencies
 
Sec. 2543. Representation of United States interests before 
        international standards organizations
        

(a) Oversight and consultation

    The Secretary concerned shall--
        (1) inform, and consult and coordinate with, the Trade 
    Representative with respect to international standards-related 
    activities identified under paragraph (2);
        (2) keep adequately informed regarding international standards-
    related activities and identify those that may substantially affect 
    the commerce of the United States; and
        (3) carry out such functions as are required under subsections 
    (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Representation of United States interests by private persons

                           (1) Definitions

        For purposes of this subsection--

        (A) Organization member

            The term ``organization member'' means the private person 
        who holds membership in a private international standards 
        organization.

        (B) Private international standards organization

            The term ``private international standards organization'' 
        means any international standards organization before which the 
        interests of the United States are represented by a private 
        person who is officially recognized by that organization for 
        such purpose.

                           (2) In general

        Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the 
    representation of United States interests before any private 
    international standards organization shall be carried out by the 
    organization member.

                    (3) Inadequate representation

        If the Secretary concerned, after inquiry instituted on his own 
    motion or at the request of any private person, Federal agency, or 
    State agency having an interest therein, has reason to believe that 
    the participation by the organization member in the proceedings of a 
    private international standards organization will not result in the 
    adequate representation of United States interests that are, or may 
    be, affected by the activities of such organization (particularly 
    with regard to the potential impact of any such activity on the 
    international trade of the United States), the Secretary concerned 
    shall immediately notify the organization member concerned. During 
    any such inquiry, the Secretary concerned may solicit and consider 
    the advice of the appropriate representatives referred to in section 
    2547 of this title.

                  (4) Action by organization member

        If within the 90-day period after the date on which notification 
    is received under paragraph (3) (or such shorter period as the 
    Secretary concerned determines to be necessary in extraordinary 
    circumstances), the organization member demonstrates to the 
    Secretary concerned its willingness and ability to represent 
    adequately United States interests before the private international 
    standards organization, the Secretary concerned shall take no 
    further action under this subsection.

                  (5) Action by Secretary concerned

        If--
            (A) within the appropriate period referred to in paragraph 
        (4), the organization member does not respond to the Secretary 
        concerned with respect to the notification, or does respond but 
        does not demonstrate to the Secretary concerned the requisite 
        willingness and ability to represent adequately United States 
        interests; or
            (B) there is no organization member of the private 
        international standards organization;

    the Secretary concerned shall make appropriate arrangements to 
    provide for the adequate representation of United States interests. 
    In cases where subparagraph (A) applies, such provision shall be 
    made by the Secretary concerned through the appropriate organization 
    member if the private international standards organization involved 
    requires representation by that member.

(c) Representation of United States interests by Federal agencies

    With respect to any international standards organization before 
which the interests of the United States are represented by one or more 
Federal agencies that are officially recognized by that organization for 
such purpose, the Secretary concerned shall--
        (1) encourage cooperation among interested Federal agencies with 
    a view toward facilitating the development of a uniform position 
    with respect to the technical activities with which the organization 
    is concerned;
        (2) encourage such Federal agencies to seek information from, 
    and to cooperate with, the affected domestic interests when 
    undertaking such representation; and
        (3) not preempt the responsibilities of any Federal agency that 
    has jurisdiction with respect to the activities undertaken by such 
    organization, unless requested to do so by such agency.

(Pub. L. 96-39, title IV, Sec. 413, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 244; Pub. L. 
103-182, title III, Sec. 351(b)(2)(A), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2122; 
Pub. L. 104-295, Sec. 21(b)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3529.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104-295 amended directory language of 
Pub. L. 103-182. See 1993 Amendment note below.
    1993--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103-182, as amended by Pub. L. 104-
295, substituted ``Trade Representative'' for ``Special 
Representative''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2545 of this title.
