---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 973n"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "973n"
heading: "Arbitration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/973n"
units:
  - "Chapter 16C — South Pacific Tuna Fishing"
---

# §973n. Arbitration


In the event of a dispute requiring the establishment of an arbitral tribunal under the [Treaty](/usc/16/973.md?p=16), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/973.md?p=14), shall appoint the arbitrator to be appointed by the United States under the [Treaty](/usc/16/973.md?p=16), shall determine the location of the arbitration, and shall represent the United States in reaching agreement under the [Treaty](/usc/16/973.md?p=16) with each [Pacific Island Party](/usc/16/973.md?p=11) involved concerning the appointment of the presiding arbitrator of the tribunal.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–330, § 16, June 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 600; Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIV, § 8424, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1919.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60 struck out “Article 6 of” after “arbitral tribunal under” and substituted “the Treaty, shall determine the location of the arbitration, and shall represent the United States in reaching agreement under the Treaty” for “paragraph 3 of that Article, and shall represent the United States in reaching agreement under such paragraph”.