USC Subchapter II

in effect

7 U.S.C. § 1765a Agricultural Trade Offices

(a) EstablishmentFor the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities, the Secretary of Agriculture, after consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish not less than six nor more than twenty-five United States Agricultural Trade Offices in other nations. (b) Administrationeach 11 So in original. Probably should be capitalized. United States Agricultural Trade Office shall be directed and administered by an Agricultural Trade Officer who by reason of training, experience, and attainments is qualified to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Such Officer shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. (c) Appointment and compensation of officersEach Agricultural Trade Officer may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no Agricultural Trade Officer (1) may be paid basic pay at a rate in excess of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–17 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title, or (2) may be paid at a rate in excess of the highest rate paid to an Agricultural Counselor or Attaché, as the case may be, who is appointed under subchapter I of this chapter to the nation in which such Officer is to serve. (d) Transmittal of informationEach Agricultural Trade Officer shall, through the Agricultural Counselor or Attaché or other senior representative of the Secretary of Agriculture in each nation in which the United States Agricultural Trade Office administered by such Officer exercises its functions, keep the Chief of the United States diplomatic mission fully and currently informed with respect to all activities and operations of such Office. (e) Office functions and activitiesEach Agricultural Trade Officer shall be responsible for the exercise of the functions of the United States Agricultural Trade Office, and shall have the authority to direct and supervise all personnel and activities thereof. (f) Personnel; employment of local nationalsTo carry out the functions of United States Agricultural Trade Offices, the Secretary of Agriculture may appoint such other personnel as the Secretary determines to be necessary and may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, assign such personnel abroad and employ local nationals for necessary professional and clerical help. (g) Conflicts of interestNo employee of any United States Agricultural Trade Office may engage in any business, vocation, or other employment, or have other interests, that are inconsistent with official responsibilities. (h) Diplomatic privileges and immunitiesUpon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State shall request for Agricultural Trade Officers and personnel of United States Agricultural Trade Offices diplomatic privileges and immunities equivalent to those enjoyed by members of the Foreign Service of comparable rank and salary.

7 U.S.C. § 1765b Functions

The functions of each United States Agricultural Trade Office shall be to— (1) increase the effectiveness of agricultural export promotion efforts through consolidation of activities, providing services and facilities for foreign buyers and United States trade representatives, and coordination of market development activities sponsored by the Department of Agriculture; (2) establish goals by nation or region and agricultural commodity for developing, expanding, and maintaining markets for United States agricultural commodities; (3) initiate programs to achieve the export marketing goals approved by the Department of Agriculture; (4) maintain facilities for use by nonresident cooperators, private trade groups, and other individuals engaged in the import and export of United States agricultural commodities where the use of such facilities would aid in the conduct of market development activities, and cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with such cooperators, groups, and individuals to expand the level of United States agricultural exports; (5) develop and maintain a current listing of trade, government, and other appropriate organizations for each agricultural commodity area and make such listing available to persons with a bona fide interest in exporting or importing United States agricultural commodities; (6) originate and provide assistance for exhibits, sales teams, and other functions for the promotion of United States agricultural commodities; (7) provide practical assistance for the use of the programs under the Food for Peace Act [7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.], the export credit sales program, the export incentives program, and related programs of the United States Government where use of such programs will serve as a market development tool for United States agriculture; (8) supervise project agreements with United States cooperators, coordinate the activities of the United States Agricultural Trade Office with those of the cooperators, and submit annual recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on the efficacy of cooperator programs; (9) publicize the services offered by the United States Agricultural Trade Office through advertisements in trade journals or by other appropriate means; and (10) perform such other functions as the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines to be necessary and proper for achieving the purposes of this subchapter.

7 U.S.C. § 1765c Performance of functions in foreign localities

Each United States Agricultural Trade Office shall carry out its functions under section 1765b of this title in the nation where the United States Agricultural Trade Office is located and in such other nations as the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may prescribe in order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

7 U.S.C. § 1765d Acquisition of property

Upon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State may use the authorities contained in the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 [22 U.S.C. 292 et seq.], to acquire sites and buildings, including living quarters, for the purpose of establishing United States Agricultural Trade Offices.

7 U.S.C. § 1765e Location of offices

United States Agricultural Trade Offices shall be centrally located in the cities of assignment to facilitate foreign trade meetings and foreign trade reliance on such offices for assistance in marketing activities.

7 U.S.C. § 1765f Availability of agency services, personnel, and facilities

Upon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, each Federal agency may make its services, personnel, and facilities available to a United States Agricultural Trade Office in the performance of its functions. The Secretary of Agriculture may reimburse or advance funds to any such agency for services, personnel, and facilities so made available.

7 U.S.C. § 1765g Availability of reports and dispatches

The provisions of section 1764(a) of this title shall apply with respect to personnel appointed and assigned under this subchapter.