---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 2543"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "2543"
heading: "Representation of United States interests before international standards organizations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/2543"
units:
  - "Chapter 13 — Trade Agreements Act of 1979"
  - "Subchapter II — Technical Barriers to Trade (standards)"
  - "Part B — Functions of Federal Agencies"
---

# §2543. Representation of United States interests before international standards organizations

- (a) **Oversight and consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned shall—
  - (1) inform, and consult and coordinate with, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) with respect to [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5)-related activities identified under [paragraph (2)](#a-2);
  - (2) keep adequately informed regarding [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5)-related activities and identify those that may substantially affect the commerce of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9); and
  - (3) carry out such functions as are required under subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c).
- (b) **Representation of United States interests by private persons—**
  - (1) **Definitions—** For purposes of this subsection—
    - (A) **Organization member—** The term “organization member” means the private [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) who holds membership in a private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization.
    - (B) **Private international standards organization—** The term “private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization” means any [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization before which the interests of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) are represented by a private [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) who is officially recognized by that organization for such purpose.
  - (2) **In general—** Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the representation of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) interests before any private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization shall be carried out by the organization member.
  - (3) **Inadequate representation—** If the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned, after inquiry instituted on his own motion or at the request of any private [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8), Federal [agency](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1), or [State](/usc/19/2577.md?p=2) [agency](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1) having an interest therein, has reason to believe that the participation by the organization member in the proceedings of a private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization will not result in the adequate representation of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) interests that are, or may be, affected by the activities of such organization (particularly with regard to the potential impact of any such activity on the international trade of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9)), the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned shall immediately notify the organization member concerned. During any such inquiry, the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned may solicit and consider the advice of the appropriate representatives referred to in [section 2547 of this title](/usc/19/2547.md).
  - (4) **Action by organization member—** If within the 90-day period after the date on which notification is received under [paragraph (3)](#b-3) (or such shorter period as the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned determines to be necessary in extraordinary circumstances), the organization member demonstrates to the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned its willingness and ability to represent adequately [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) interests before the private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization, the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned shall take no further action under this subsection.
  - (5) **Action by Secretary concerned—** If—
    - (A) within the appropriate period referred to in [paragraph (4)](#b-4), the organization member does not respond to the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned with respect to the notification, or does respond but does not demonstrate to the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned the requisite willingness and ability to represent adequately [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) interests; or
    - (B) there is no organization member of the private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization;

    the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned shall make appropriate arrangements to provide for the adequate representation of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) interests. In cases where [subparagraph (A)](#b-5-A) applies, such provision shall be made by the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned through the appropriate organization member if the private [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization involved requires representation by that member.

- (c) **Representation of United States interests by Federal agencies—** With respect to any [international standards](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-5) organization before which the interests of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) are represented by one or more Federal [agencies](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1) that are officially recognized by that organization for such purpose, the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) concerned shall—
  - (1) encourage cooperation among interested Federal [agencies](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1) with a view toward facilitating the development of a uniform position with respect to the technical activities with which the organization is concerned;
  - (2) encourage such Federal [agencies](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1) to seek information from, and to cooperate with, the affected domestic interests when undertaking such representation; and
  - (3) not preempt the responsibilities of any Federal [agency](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1) that has jurisdiction with respect to the activities undertaken by such organization, unless requested to do so by such [agency](/usc/19/2578b.md?p=a-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–39, title IV, § 413, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 244; Pub. L. 103–182, title III, § 351(b)(2)(A), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2122; Pub. L. 104–295, § 21(b)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3529.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–295 amended directory language of Pub. L. 103–182. See 1993 Amendment note below.

1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–182, as amended by Pub. L. 104–295, substituted “Trade Representative” for “Special Representative”.