---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3531"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3531"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3531"
units:
  - "Chapter 22 — Uruguay Round Trade Agreements"
  - "Subchapter I — Approval of, and General Provisions Relating to, Uruguay Round Agreements"
  - "Part C — Uruguay Round Implementation and Dispute Settlement"
---

# §3531. Definitions


For purposes of this part:

- (1) **Administering authority—** The term “administering authority” has the meaning given that term in [section 1677(1) of this title](/usc/19/1677.md?p=1).
- (2) **Appellate Body—** The term “Appellate Body” means the Appellate Body established under Article 17.1 of the [Dispute Settlement Understanding](#6).
- (3) **Appropriate congressional committees; congressional committees—**
  - (A) **Appropriate congressional committees—** The term “appropriate congressional committees” means the committees referred to in [subparagraph (B)](#3-B) and any other committees of the Congress that have jurisdiction involving the matter with respect to which consultations are to be held.
  - (B) **Congressional committees—** The term “congressional committees” means the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
- (4) **Dispute settlement panel; panel—** The terms “dispute settlement panel” and “panel” mean a panel established pursuant to Article 6 of the [Dispute Settlement Understanding](#6).
- (5) **Dispute Settlement Body—** The term “Dispute Settlement Body” means the Dispute Settlement Body administering the rules and procedures set forth in the [Dispute Settlement Understanding](#6).
- (6) **Dispute Settlement Understanding—** The term “Dispute Settlement Understanding” means the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes referred to in [section 3511(d)(16) of this title](/usc/19/3511.md?p=d-16).
- (7) **General Council—** The term “General Council” means the General Council established under paragraph 2 of Article IV of the [WTO Agreement](/usc/19/3501.md?p=9).
- (8) **Ministerial Conference—** The term “Ministerial Conference” means the Ministerial Conference established under paragraph 1 of Article IV of the [WTO Agreement](/usc/19/3501.md?p=9).
- (9) **Other terms—** The terms “Antidumping Agreement”, “Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures”, and “Safeguards Agreement” mean the agreements referred to in [section 3511(d)(7)](/usc/19/3511.md?p=d-7), (12), and (13) of this title, respectively.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–465, title I, § 121, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4828.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This part, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle C (§§ 121 to 130) of title I of Pub. L. 103–465, which enacted this part, amended sections 1516a, 2155, and 2254 of this title, and enacted provisions set out below. For complete classification of subtitle C to the Code, see Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–465, title I, § 130, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4839, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 121–130) of title I of Pub. L. 103–465, enacting this part and amending sections 1516a, 2155, and 2254 of this title] and the amendments made by this subtitle take effect on the date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States (Jan. 1, 1995).”