---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2418"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2418"
heading: "Request for information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2418"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Trade Act of 1974"
  - "Subchapter III — Enforcement of United States Rights under Trade Agreements and Response to Certain Foreign Trade Practices"
---

# §2418. Request for information

- (a) **In general—** Upon receipt of written request therefor from any [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall make available to that [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) information (other than that to which confidentiality applies) concerning—
  - (1) the nature and extent of a specific trade policy or practice of a foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) with respect to particular goods, [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4), investment, or intellectual property rights, to the extent that such information is available to the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) or other Federal agencies;
  - (2) [United States](/usc/19/2319.md?p=8) rights under any trade agreement and the remedies which may be available under that agreement and under the laws of the [United States](/usc/19/2319.md?p=8); and
  - (3) past and present domestic and international proceedings or actions with respect to the policy or practice concerned.
- (b) **If information not available—** If information that is requested by a [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) under [subsection (a)](#a) is not available to the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) or other Federal agencies, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) shall, within 30 days after receipt of the request—
  - (1) request the information from the foreign government; or
  - (2) decline to request the information and inform the [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) in writing of the reasons for refusal.
- (c) **Certain business information not made available—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#c-2), and notwithstanding any other provision of law (including [section 552 of title 5](/usc/5/552.md)), no information requested and received by the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) in aid of any investigation under this subchapter shall be made available to any [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) if—
    - (A) the [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) providing such information certifies that—
      - (i) such information is business confidential,
      - (ii) the disclosure of such information would endanger trade secrets or profitability, and
      - (iii) such information is not generally available;
    - (B) the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) determines that such certification is well-founded; and
    - (C) to the extent required in regulations prescribed by the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32), the [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) providing such information provides an adequate nonconfidential summary of such information.
  - (2) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) may—
    - (A) use such information, or make such information available (in his own discretion) to any employee of the Federal Government for use, in any investigation under this subchapter, or
    - (B) may make such information available to any other [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) in a form which cannot be associated with, or otherwise identify, the [person](/usc/19/2401.md?p=2) providing the information.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–618, title III, § 308, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1301(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1175.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to petitions filed, and investigations initiated, under section 2412 of this title 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 an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2411 of this title.