                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
                CHAPTER 13--TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979
 
         SUBCHAPTER II--TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS)
 
  Part C--Administrative and Judicial Proceedings Regarding Standards-
                           Related Activities
 
    subpart 2--other proceedings regarding certain standards-related 
                               activities
 
Sec. 2561. Findings of reciprocity required in administrative 
        proceedings
        

(a) In general

    Except as provided under subpart 1, no Federal agency may consider a 
complaint or petition against any standards-related activity regarding 
an imported product, if that activity is engaged in within the United 
States and is covered by the Agreement, unless the Trade Representative 
finds, and informs the agency concerned in writing, that--
        (1) the country of origin of the imported product is a Party to 
    the Agreement or a foreign country described in section 2552(2) of 
    this title; and
        (2) the dispute settlement procedures provided under the 
    Agreement are not appropriate.

(b) Exemptions

    This section does not apply with respect to causes of action arising 
under--
        (1) the antitrust laws as defined in section 12(a) of title 15; 
    or
        (2) statutes administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

This section does not apply with respect to petitions and proceedings 
that are provided for under the practices of any Federal agency for the 
purpose of ensuring, in accordance with section 553 of title 5, that 
interested persons are given an opportunity to participate in agency 
rulemaking or to seek the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule.

(Pub. L. 96-39, title IV, Sec. 441, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 248; 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--Pub. L. 104-295 amended directory language of Pub. L. 103-182. 
See 1993 Amendment note below.
    1993--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-182, as amended by Pub. L. 104-295, 
substituted ``Trade Representative'' for ``Special Representative''.
