---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 3102"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "3102"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/3102"
units:
  - "Chapter 46 — International Investment and Trade in Services Survey"
---

# §3102. Definitions


As used in this chapter, the term—

- (1) “United States”, when used in a geographic sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, and all territories and possessions of the United States;
- (2) “foreign”, when used in a geographic sense, means that which is situated outside the United States or which belongs to or is characteristic of a country other than the United States;
- (3) “person” means any individual, branch, partnership, associated group, association, estate, trust, corporation, or other organization (whether or not organized under the laws of any State), and any government (including a foreign government, the United States Government, a State or local government, and any agency, corporation, financial institution, or other entity or instrumentality thereof, including a government-sponsored agency);
- (4) “United States person” means any [person](#3) resident in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
- (5) “foreign person” means any [person](#3) resident outside the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of a country other than the United States;
- (6) “business enterprise” means any organization, association, branch, or venture which exists for profitmaking purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage, and any ownership of any real estate;
- (7) “parent” means a [person](#3) of one country who, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 10 per centum or more of the voting stock of an incorporated [business enterprise](#6), or an equivalent ownership interest in an unincorporated [business enterprise](#6), which is located outside that country;
- (8) “affiliate” means a [business enterprise](#6) located in one country which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a [person](#3) of another country to the extent of 10 per centum or more of its voting stock for an incorporated business or an equivalent interest for an unincorporated business, including a branch;
- (9) “international investment” means (A) the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by contractual commitment or otherwise, by [foreign persons](#5) of any interest in property in the United States, or of stock, other securities, or short- and long-term debt obligations of a [United States person](#4), and (B) the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by contractual commitment or otherwise, by [United States persons](#4) of any interest in property outside the United States, or of stock, other securities, or short-and long-term debt obligations of a [foreign person](#5);
- (10) “direct investment” means the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by one [person](#3) of 10 per centum or more of the voting securities of an incorporated [business enterprise](#6) or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated [business enterprise](#6); and
- (11) “portfolio investment” means any [international investment](#9) which is not [direct investment](#10).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–472, § 3, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2060.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in par. (1), see section 3602(b) of this title.