---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3538"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3538"
heading: "Administrative action following WTO panel reports"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3538"
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"
---

# §3538. Administrative action following WTO panel reports

- (a) **Action by United States International Trade Commission—**
  - (1) **Advisory report—** If a [dispute settlement panel](/usc/19/3531.md?p=4) finds in an interim report under Article 15 of the [Dispute Settlement Understanding](/usc/19/3531.md?p=6), or the [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2) finds in a report under Article 17 of that Understanding, that an action by the [International Trade Commission](/usc/19/3501.md?p=3) in connection with a particular proceeding is not in conformity with the obligations of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) under the [Antidumping Agreement](/usc/19/3531.md?p=9), the [Safeguards Agreement](/usc/19/3531.md?p=9), or the [Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures](/usc/19/3531.md?p=9), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) may request the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) to issue an advisory report on whether title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1671](/usc/19/1671.md) et seq.] or title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [[19 U.S.C. 2251](/usc/19/2251.md) et seq.], as the case may be, permits the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) to take steps in connection with the particular proceeding that would render its action not inconsistent with the findings of the [panel](/usc/19/3531.md?p=4) or the [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2) concerning those obligations. The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall notify the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) of such request.
  - (2) **Time limits for report—** The [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) shall transmit its report under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) to the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6)—
    - (A) in the case of an interim report described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), within 30 calendar days after the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) requests the report; and
    - (B) in the case of a report of the [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2), within 21 calendar days after the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) requests the report.
  - (3) **Consultations on request for Commission determination—** If a majority of the Commissioners issues an affirmative report under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall consult with the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) concerning the matter.
  - (4) **Commission determination—** Notwithstanding any provision of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1202](/usc/19/1202.md) et seq.] or title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [[19 U.S.C. 2251](/usc/19/2251.md) et seq.], if a majority of the Commissioners issues an affirmative report under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2), upon the written request of the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6), shall issue a determination in connection with the particular proceeding that would render the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2)’s action described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) not inconsistent with the findings of the [panel](/usc/19/3531.md?p=4) or [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2). The [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) shall issue its determination not later than 120 days after the request from the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) is made.
  - (5) **Consultations on implementation of Commission determination—** The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall consult with the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) before the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2)’s determination under [paragraph (4)](#a-4) is implemented.
  - (6) **Revocation of order—** If, by virtue of the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2)’s determination under [paragraph (4)](#a-4), an antidumping or countervailing duty order with respect to some or all of the imports that are subject to the action of the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) is no longer supported by an affirmative [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) determination under title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1671](/usc/19/1671.md) et seq.] or this subsection, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) may, after consulting with the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) under [paragraph (5)](#a-5), direct the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) to revoke the antidumping or countervailing duty order in whole or in part.
- (b) **Action by administering authority—**
  - (1) **Consultations with administering authority and congressional committees—** Promptly after a report by a [dispute settlement panel](/usc/19/3531.md?p=4) or the [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2) is issued that contains findings that an action by the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) in a proceeding under title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1671](/usc/19/1671.md) et seq.] is not in conformity with the obligations of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) under the [Antidumping Agreement](/usc/19/3531.md?p=9) or the [Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures](/usc/19/3531.md?p=9), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall consult with the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) and the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) on the matter.
  - (2) **Determination by administering authority—** Notwithstanding any provision of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1202](/usc/19/1202.md) et seq.], the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) shall, within 180 days after receipt of a written request from the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6), issue a determination in connection with the particular proceeding that would render the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1)’s action described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) not inconsistent with the findings of the [panel](/usc/19/3531.md?p=4) or the [Appellate Body](/usc/19/3531.md?p=2).
  - (3) **Consultations before implementation—** Before the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) implements any determination under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall consult with the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) and the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) with respect to such determination.
  - (4) **Implementation of determination—** The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) may, after consulting with the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) and the [congressional committees](/usc/19/3531.md?p=3-B) under [paragraph (3)](#b-3), direct the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) to implement, in whole or in part, the determination made under [paragraph (2)](#b-2).
- (c) **Effects of determinations; notice of implementation—**
  - (1) **Effects of determinations—** Determinations concerning title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1671](/usc/19/1671.md) et seq.] that are implemented under this section shall apply with respect to unliquidated [entries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) of the [subject merchandise](/usc/19/1677.md?p=25) (as defined in section 771 of that Act [[19 U.S.C. 1677](/usc/19/1677.md)]) that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after—
    - (A) in the case of a determination by the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2) under [subsection (a)(4)](#a-4), the date on which the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) directs the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)(6)](#a-6) to revoke an order pursuant to that determination, and
    - (B) in the case of a determination by the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2), the date on which the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) directs the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) under [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4) to implement that determination.
  - (2) **Notice of implementation—**
    - (A) The [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the implementation of any determination made under this section with respect to title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [[19 U.S.C. 1671](/usc/19/1671.md) et seq.].
    - (B) The [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the implementation of any determination made under this section with respect to title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [[19 U.S.C. 2251](/usc/19/2251.md) et seq.].
- (d) **Opportunity for comment by interested parties—** Prior to issuing a determination under this section, the [administering authority](/usc/19/3531.md?p=1) or the [Commission](/usc/19/1677.md?p=2), as the case may be, shall provide [interested parties](/usc/19/1677.md?p=9) with an opportunity to submit written comments and, in appropriate cases, may hold a hearing, with respect to the determination.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–465, title I, § 129, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4836.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (4), (6), (b)(1), (2), and (c)(1), (2)(A), is act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, 46 Stat. 590, which is classified generally to chapter 4 (§ 1202 et seq.) of this title. Title VII of the Act is classified generally to subtitle IV (§ 1671 et seq.) of chapter 4 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1654 of this title and Tables.

The Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (4) and (c)(2)(B), is Pub. L. 93–618, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 1978. Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 2251 et seq.) of chapter 12 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 2101 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 129 of Pub. L. 103–465. Subsecs. (a)(7) and (e) of section 129 of Pub. L. 103–465 amended sections 2254 and 1516a, respectively, of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States (Jan. 1, 1995), see section 130 of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as a note under section 3531 of this title.