---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3735"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3735"
heading: "Expansion of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service in sub-Saharan Africa"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3735"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Extension of Certain Trade Benefits to Sub-Saharan Africa"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Development Related Issues"
---

# §3735. Expansion of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service in sub-Saharan Africa

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress makes the following findings:
  - (1) The [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) and Foreign Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4)”) plays an important role in helping [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) businesses identify export opportunities and develop reliable sources of information on commercial prospects in foreign [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3).
  - (2) During the 1980s, the presence of the Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) in sub-Saharan Africa consisted of 14 professionals providing [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) in eight [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3). By early 1997, that presence had been reduced by half to seven professionals in only four [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3).
  - (3) Since 1997, the Department of Commerce has slowly begun to increase the presence of the Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) in sub-Saharan Africa, adding five full-time officers to established posts.
  - (4) Although the Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) Officers in these [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) have regional responsibilities, this kind of coverage does not adequately [service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) the needs of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) businesses attempting to do business in sub-Saharan Africa.
  - (5) The Congress has, on several occasions, encouraged the Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) to focus its resources and efforts in [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) or regions in Europe or Asia to promote greater [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) export activity in those markets, and similar encouragement should be provided for [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) in sub-Saharan Africa as well.
  - (6) Because market information is not widely available in many sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3), the presence of additional Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) Officers and resources can play a significant role in assisting [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) businesses in markets in those [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3).
- (b) **Appointments—** Subject to the availability of appropriations, by not later than December 31, 2001, the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of Commerce, acting through the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of Commerce and Director General of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) and Foreign Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4), shall take steps to ensure that—
  - (1) at least 20 full-time Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) employees are stationed in sub-Saharan Africa; and
  - (2) full-time Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) employees are stationed in not less than 10 different sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3).
- (c) **Initiative for sub-Saharan Africa—** In order to encourage the export of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) goods and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) to sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3), the International Trade Administration shall make a special effort to—
  - (1) identify [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) goods and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) which are the best prospects for export by [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) companies to sub-Saharan Africa;
  - (2) identify, where appropriate, tariff and nontariff barriers that are preventing or hindering sales of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) goods and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) to, or the operation of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) companies in, sub-Saharan Africa;
  - (3) hold discussions with appropriate authorities in sub-Saharan Africa on the matters described in paragraphs [(1)](#c-1) and [(2)](#c-2) with a view to securing increased market access for [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) exporters of goods and [services](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4);
  - (4) identify current resource allocations and personnel levels in sub-Saharan Africa for the Commercial [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) and consider plans for the deployment of additional resources or personnel to that region; and
  - (5) make available to the public, through printed and electronic means of communication, the information derived pursuant to paragraphs [(1)](#c-1) through [(4)](#c-4) for each of the 4 years after May 18, 2000.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 125, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 270.)