---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2542"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2542"
heading: "Establishment and operation of technical offices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2542"
units:
  - "Chapter 13 — Trade Agreements Act of 1979"
  - "Subchapter II — Technical Barriers to Trade (standards)"
  - "Part B — Functions of Federal Agencies"
---

# §2542. Establishment and operation of technical offices

- (a) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **For nonagricultural products—** The [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of Commerce shall establish and maintain within the Department of Commerce a technical office that shall carry out the functions prescribed under [subsection (b)](#b) with respect to nonagricultural products.
  - (2) **For agricultural products—** The [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of Agriculture shall establish and maintain within the Department of Agriculture a technical office that shall carry out the functions prescribed under [subsection (b)](#b) with respect to agricultural products.
- (b) **Functions of offices—** The President shall prescribe for each technical office established under [subsection (a)](#a) such functions as the President deems necessary or appropriate to implement this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–39, title IV, § 412, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 244.)

## Notes

### Executive Documents

### Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under subsec. (b) of this section delegated to Secretary of Commerce regarding technical office established under subsec. (a)(1) of this section, and to Secretary of Agriculture regarding technical office established under subsec. (a)(2) of this section, see section 1–103(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 990, set out as a note under section 2171 of this title.