---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3539"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3539"
heading: "Fund for WTO dispute settlements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3539"
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"
---

# §3539. Fund for WTO dispute settlements

- (a) **Establishment of fund—** There is established in the Treasury a fund for the payment of settlements under this section.
- (b) **Authority of USTR to pay settlements—** Amounts in the fund established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be available, as provided in appropriations Acts, only for the payment by the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) of the amount of the total or partial settlement of any dispute pursuant to proceedings under the auspices of the [World Trade Organization](/usc/19/3501.md?p=8), if—
  - (1) in the case of a total or partial settlement in an amount of not more than $10,000,000, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) certifies to the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of the Treasury that the settlement is in the best interests of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9); and
  - (2) in the case of a total or partial settlement in an amount of more than $10,000,000, the [Trade Representative](/usc/19/3501.md?p=6) certifies to the Congress that the settlement is in the best interests of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9).
- (c) **Appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the fund established under [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) $50,000,000; and
  - (2) amounts equivalent to amounts recovered by the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) pursuant to the settlement of disputes pursuant to proceedings under the auspices of the [World Trade Organization](/usc/19/3501.md?p=8).

  Amounts appropriated to the fund are authorized to remain available until expended.

- (d) **Management of fund—** Sections [9601](/usc/26/9601.md) and [9602(b)](/usc/26/9602.md?p=b) of title 26 shall apply to the fund established under [subsection (a)](#a) to the same extent as such provisions apply to trust funds established under subchapter A of chapter 98 of such title.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–210, div. E, title L, § 5201, Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 1047.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Trade Act of 2002, and not as part of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act which enacted this chapter.