§ 4723a. — United States Commercial Centers.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 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.
