§ 1765a. — Agricultural Trade Offices.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC1765a]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 43--FOREIGN MARKET DEVELOPMENT
SUBCHAPTER II--UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL TRADE OFFICES
Sec. 1765a. Agricultural Trade Offices
(a) Establishment
For the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding
international markets for United States agricultural commodities, the
Secretary of Agriculture, after consultation with the Secretary of
State, shall establish not less than six nor more than twenty-five
United States Agricultural Trade Offices in other nations.
(b) Administration
each \1\ United States Agricultural Trade Office shall be directed
and administered by an Agricultural Trade Officer who by reason of
training, experience, and attainments is qualified to carry out the
purposes of this subchapter. Such Officer shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Agriculture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Appointment and compensation of officers
Each Agricultural Trade Officer may be appointed without regard to
the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive
service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification
and General Schedule pay rates, except that no Agricultural Trade
Officer (1) may be paid basic pay at a rate in excess of the maximum
annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-17 of the General Schedule under
section 5332 of such title, or (2) may be paid at a rate in excess of
the highest rate paid to an Agricultural Counselor or Attache, as the
case may be, who is appointed under subchapter I of this chapter to the
nation in which such Officer is to serve.
(d) Transmittal of information
Each Agricultural Trade Officer shall, through the Agricultural
Counselor or Attache or other senior representative of the Secretary of
Agriculture in each nation in which the United States Agricultural Trade
Office administered by such Officer exercises its functions, keep the
Chief of the United States diplomatic mission fully and currently
informed with respect to all activities and operations of such Office.
(e) Office functions and activities
Each Agricultural Trade Officer shall be responsible for the
exercise of the functions of the United States Agricultural Trade
Office, and shall have the authority to direct and supervise all
personnel and activities thereof.
(f) Personnel; employment of local nationals
To carry out the functions of United States Agricultural Trade
Offices, the Secretary of Agriculture may appoint such other personnel
as the Secretary determines to be necessary and may, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, assign such personnel abroad and
employ local nationals for necessary professional and clerical help.
(g) Conflicts of interest
No employee of any United States Agricultural Trade Office may
engage in any business, vocation, or other employment, or have other
interests, that are inconsistent with official responsibilities.
(h) Diplomatic privileges and immunities
Upon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
State shall request for Agricultural Trade Officers and personnel of
United States Agricultural Trade Offices diplomatic privileges and
immunities equivalent to those enjoyed by members of the Foreign Service
of comparable rank and salary.
(Aug. 28, 1954, ch. 1041, title VI, Sec. 605A, as added Pub. L. 95-501,
title IV, Sec. 401(1), Oct. 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 1688; amended Pub. L. 96-
465, title II, Sec. 2206(b)(1), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2162.)
References in Text
The provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive
service, referred to in subsec. (c), are classified generally to section
3301 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Amendments
1980--Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 96-465 substituted ``members of the
Foreign Service'' for ``Foreign Service Personnel''.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96-465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as
otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96-465, set out as an
Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations
and Intercourse.
References in Other Laws to GS-16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I,
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376
of Title 5.
