---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3103"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3103"
heading: "Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3103"
units:
  - "Chapter 19 — Telecommunications Trade"
---

# §3103. Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers

- (a) **In general—** The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) shall conduct an investigation to identify priority foreign [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3). Such investigation shall be concluded by no later than the date that is 5 months after August 23, 1988.
- (b) **Factors to be taken into account—** In identifying priority foreign [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) shall take into account, among other relevant factors—
  - (1) the nature and significance of the acts, policies, and practices that deny mutually advantageous market opportunities to [telecommunications products](/usc/19/3102.md?p=2) and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) firms;
  - (2) the economic benefits (actual and potential) accruing to foreign firms from open access to the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) market;
  - (3) the potential size of the market of a foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) for [telecommunications products](/usc/19/3102.md?p=2) and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) firms;
  - (4) the potential to increase [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) exports of [telecommunications products](/usc/19/3102.md?p=2) and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4), either directly or through the establishment of a beneficial precedent; and
  - (5) measurable progress being made to eliminate the objectionable acts, policies, or practices.
- (c) **Revocations and additional identifications—**
  - (1) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) may at any time, after taking into account the factors described in [subsection (b)](#b)—
    - (A) revoke the identification of any priority foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) that was made under this section, or
    - (B) identify any foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) as a priority foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) under this section,

    if information available to the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) indicates that such action is appropriate.

  - (2) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) shall include in the semiannual report submitted to the Congress under [section 2419(3) of this title](/usc/19/2419.md?p=3) a detailed explanation of the reasons for the revocation under paragraph (1) of this subsection of any identification of any foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) as a priority foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3).
- (d) **Report to Congress—** By no later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the investigation conducted under [subsection (a)](#a) is completed, the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3102.md?p=1) shall submit a report on the investigation to the President and to appropriate committees of the Congress.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1374, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1217.)