---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 4342"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "4342"
heading: "Limitations on disposition of personal prop­erty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/4342"
units:
  - "Chapter 53A — Disposition of Personal Property Abroad"
---

# §4342. Limitations on disposition of personal prop­erty

- (a) **General rule—** Except as authorized under [subsection (b)](#b), [employees](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) or members of their family shall not sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of [personal property](/usc/22/4341.md?p=6) within a [foreign country](/usc/22/4341.md?p=5) which was imported into or purchased within that [foreign country](/usc/22/4341.md?p=5) and which, by virtue of the official status of the [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1), was exempt from import limitation, customs duties, or taxes which would otherwise apply.
- (b) **Approval by chief of mission—** The [chief of mission](/usc/22/4341.md?p=4) to a [foreign country](/usc/22/4341.md?p=5), or a designee of such [chief of mission](/usc/22/4341.md?p=4), is authorized to approve within that [foreign country](/usc/22/4341.md?p=5) sales, assignment, or other dispositions of property by [employees](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) under the [chief of mission](/usc/22/4341.md?p=4)’s jurisdiction (as described in [section 3927 of this title](/usc/22/3927.md)) to the extent that such sale, assignment, or other disposition is in accordance with regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to [section 4343 of this title](/usc/22/4343.md).
- (c) **Violation—** Violation of this section, or other importation, sale, or other disposition of [personal property](/usc/22/4341.md?p=6) within a [foreign country](/usc/22/4341.md?p=5) which violates its laws or regulations or governing international law and is prohibited by regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to [section 4343 of this title](/usc/22/4343.md), shall be grounds for disciplinary action against an [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 186(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1368.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 186(b) of Pub. L. 100–204, set out as a note under section 4741 of this title.