---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 4013"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "4013"
heading: "Issuance of certificate"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/4013"
units:
  - "Chapter 66 — Promotion of Export Trade"
  - "Subchapter II — Export Trade Certificates of Review"
---

# §4013. Issuance of certificate

- (a) **Requirements—** A certificate of review shall be issued to any [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) that establishes that its specified [export trade](/usc/15/4021.md?p=1), [export trade activities](/usc/15/4021.md?p=3), and [methods of operation](/usc/15/4021.md?p=4) will—
  - (1) result in neither a substantial lessening of competition or restraint of trade within the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6) nor a substantial restraint of the [export trade](/usc/15/4021.md?p=1) of any competitor of the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3),
  - (2) not unreasonably enhance, stabilize, or depress prices within the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6) of the goods, wares, merchandise, or [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2) of the class exported by the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3),
  - (3) not constitute unfair methods of competition against competitors engaged in the export of goods, wares, merchandise, or [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2) of the class exported by the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3), and
  - (4) not include any act that may reasonably be expected to result in the sale for consumption or resale within the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6) of the goods, wares, merchandise, or [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2) exported by the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3).
- (b) **Time for determination; specification in certificate—** Within ninety days after the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) receives an application for a certificate of review, the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) shall determine whether the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3)’s [export trade](/usc/15/4021.md?p=1), [export trade activities](/usc/15/4021.md?p=3), and [methods of operation](/usc/15/4021.md?p=4) meet the standards of [subsection (a)](#a). If the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7), with the concurrence of the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8), determines that such standards are met, the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) shall issue to the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) a certificate of review. The certificate of review shall specify—
  - (1) the [export trade](/usc/15/4021.md?p=1), [export trade activities](/usc/15/4021.md?p=3), and [methods of operation](/usc/15/4021.md?p=4) to which the certificate applies,
  - (2) the [person](/usc/15/4021.md?p=5) to whom the certificate of review is issued, and
  - (3) any terms and conditions the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) or the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8) deems necessary to assure compliance with the standards of [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Expedited action—** If the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) indicates a special need for prompt disposition, the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) and the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8) may expedite action on the application, except that no certificate of review may be issued within thirty days of publication of notice in the Federal Register under [section 4012(b)(1) of this title](/usc/15/4012.md?p=b-1).
- (d) **Notification of denial; request for reconsideration—**
  - (1) If the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) denies in whole or in part an application for a certificate, he shall notify the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) of his determination and the reasons for it.
  - (2) An [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) may, within thirty days of receipt of notification that the application has been denied in whole or in part, request the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) to reconsider the determination. The [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7), with the concurrence of the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8), shall notify the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) of the determination upon reconsideration within thirty days of receipt of the request.
- (e) **Return of documents upon request after denial—** If the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) denies an application for the issuance of a certificate of review and thereafter receives from the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) a request for the return of documents submitted by the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) in connection with the application for the certificate, the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) and the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8) shall return to the [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3), not later than thirty days after receipt of the request, the documents and all copies of the documents available to the [Secretary](/usc/15/4021.md?p=7) and the [Attorney General](/usc/15/4021.md?p=8), except to the extent that the information contained in a document has been made available to the public.
- (f) **Fraudulent procurement of certificate—** A certificate shall be void ab initio with respect to any [export trade](/usc/15/4021.md?p=1), [export trade activities](/usc/15/4021.md?p=3), or [methods of operation](/usc/15/4021.md?p=4) for which a certificate was procured by fraud.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–290, title III, § 303, Oct. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 1241.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after effective date of rules and regulations first promulgated under section 4020 of this title, see section 312(b) of Pub. L. 97–290 set out as a note under section 4011 of this title.