---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 4021"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "4021"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/4021"
units:
  - "Chapter 66 — Promotion of Export Trade"
  - "Subchapter II — Export Trade Certificates of Review"
---

# §4021. Definitions


As used in this subchapter—

- (1) the term “export trade” means trade or commerce in goods, wares, merchandise, or [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2) exported, or in the course of being exported, from the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6) or any territory thereof to any foreign nation,
- (2) the term “service” means intangible economic output, including, but not limited to—
  - (A) business, repair, and amusement [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2),
  - (B) management, legal, engineering, architectural, and other professional [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2), and
  - (C) financial, insurance, transportation, informational and any other data-based [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2), and communication [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2),
- (3) the term “export trade activities” means activities or [agreements](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) in the course of [export trade](#1),
- (4) the term “methods of operation” means any method by which a [person](#5) conducts or proposes to conduct [export trade](#1),
- (5) the term “person” means an individual who is a resident of the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6); a partnership that is created under and exists pursuant to the laws of any [State](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-5) or of the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6); a [State](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-5) or [local government](/usc/15/34.md?p=1) entity; a corporation, whether organized as a profit or nonprofit corporation, that is created under and exists pursuant to the laws of any [State](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-5) or of the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6); or any association or combination, by contract or other arrangement, between or among such persons,
- (6) the term “antitrust laws” means the antitrust laws, as such term is defined in [section 12 of this title](/usc/15/12.md), and [section 45 of this title](/usc/15/45.md) (to the extent that [section 45 of this title](/usc/15/45.md) prohibits unfair methods of competition), and any [State](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-5) antitrust or unfair competition law,
- (7) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce or his designee, and
- (8) the term “Attorney General” means the Attorney General of the [United States](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-6) or his designee.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–290, title III, § 311, Oct. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 1245.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 8, 1982, see section 312 of Pub. L. 97–290, set out as a note under section 4011 of this title.