---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2412"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2412"
heading: "Initiation of investigations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2412"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Trade Act of 1974"
  - "Subchapter III — Enforcement of United States Rights under Trade Agreements and Response to Certain Foreign Trade Practices"
---

# §2412. Initiation of investigations

- (a) **Petitions—**
  - (1) Any interested [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) may file a petition with the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) requesting that action be taken under [section 2411 of this title](/usc/19/2411.md) and setting forth the allegations in support of the request.
  - (2) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall review the allegations in any petition filed under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) and, not later than 45 days after the date on which the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) received the petition, shall determine whether to initiate an investigation.
  - (3) If the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) determines not to initiate an investigation with respect to a petition, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall inform the petitioner of the reasons therefor and shall publish notice of the determination, together with a summary of such reasons, in the Federal Register.
  - (4) If the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) makes an affirmative determination under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) with respect to a petition, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall initiate an investigation regarding the issues raised in the petition. The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall publish a summary of the petition in the Federal Register and shall, as soon as possible, provide opportunity for the presentation of views concerning the issues, including a public hearing—
    - (A) within the 30-day period beginning on the date of the affirmative determination (or on a date after such period if agreed to by the petitioner) if a public hearing within such period is requested in the petition, or
    - (B) at such other time if a timely request therefor is made by the petitioner or by any interested [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2).
- (b) **Initiation of investigation by means other than petition—**
  - (1)
    - (A) If the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) determines that an investigation should be initiated under this subchapter with respect to any matter in order to determine whether the matter is actionable under [section 2411 of this title](/usc/19/2411.md), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall publish such determination in the Federal Register and shall initiate such investigation.
    - (B) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall, before making any determination under [subparagraph (A)](#b-1-A), consult with appropriate committees established pursuant to [section 2155 of this title](/usc/19/2155.md).
  - (2)
    - (A) By no later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which a [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) is identified under [section 2242(a)(2) of this title](/usc/19/2242.md?p=a-2), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall initiate an investigation under this subchapter with respect to any act, policy, or practice of that [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) that—
      - (i) was the basis for such identification, and
      - (ii) is not at that time the subject of any other investigation or action under this subchapter.
    - (B) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) is not required under [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A) to initiate an investigation under this subchapter with respect to any act, policy, or practice of a foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) if the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) determines that the initiation of the investigation would be detrimental to [United States](/usc/19/2319.md?p=8) economic interests.
    - (C) If the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) makes a determination under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B) not to initiate an investigation, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall submit to the Congress a written report setting forth, in detail—
      - (i) the reasons for the determination, and
      - (ii) the [United States](/usc/19/2319.md?p=8) economic interests that would be adversely affected by the investigation.
    - (D) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall, from time to time, consult with the Register of Copyrights, the Under [Secretary](/usc/19/2401.md?p=6) of [Commerce](/usc/19/2481.md?p=10) for Intellectual Property and Director of the [United States](/usc/19/2319.md?p=8) Patent and Trademark Office, and other appropriate officers of the Federal Government, during any investigation initiated under this subchapter by reason of [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A).
- (c) **Discretion—** In determining whether to initiate an investigation under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) of any act, policy, or practice that is enumerated in any provision of [section 2411(d) of this title](/usc/19/2411.md?p=d), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall have discretion to determine whether action under [section 2411 of this title](/usc/19/2411.md) would be effective in addressing such act, policy, or practice.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–618, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 96–39, title IX, § 901, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 296; amended Pub. L. 98–573, title III, § 304(d)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3003; Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1301(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1168; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(9)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–584.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 93–618, title III, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2043, which related to the procedure for Congressional disapproval of certain actions taken by the President to eliminate foreign import restrictions and export subsidies and which was classified to this section, was omitted in the general revision of chapter 1 of title III of Pub. L. 93–618 by Pub. L. 96–39, title IX, § 901, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 295.

### Amendments

1999—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office” for “Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–418 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to initiating investigations with or without petitions and discretion of Trade Representative for provisions relating to filing and determinations on petitions for investigations and investigations initiated by Trade Representative.

1984—Pub. L. 98–573 amended section generally, substituting “United States Trade Representative” and “Trade Representative” for “Special Representative for Trade Negotiations” and “Special Representative”, respectively, substituting “the reasons” for “his reasons” in subsec. (b)(1), substituting “a summary” for “the text” in subsec. (b)(2), striking out the comma after “petitioner)” in subsec. (b)(2)(A), and inserting “or by any interested person” after “petitioner” in subsec. (b)(2)(B).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–418 applicable to petitions filed, and investigations initiated, under this section on or after Aug. 23, 1988, and petitions filed, and investigations initiated, before Aug. 23, 1988, if by such date no decision had been made under section 2414 of this title regarding the petition or investigation, see section 1301(c) of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as a note under section 2411 of this title.