19 USC § 3103 - Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t19/s3103"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "19 USC § 3103 - Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers"
title_number: 19
title_name: "CUSTOMS DUTIES"
section_number: "3103"
section_name: "Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers"
chapter_number: 19
chapter_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRADE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1374, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1217.)"
---


# § 3103. Investigation of foreign telecommunications trade barriers

**(a)** **In general** August 23, 1988

The Trade Representative shall conduct an investigation to identify priority foreign countries. Such investigation shall be concluded by no later than the date that is 5 months after .

**(b)** **Factors to be taken into account** In identifying priority foreign countries under subsection (a), the Trade Representative shall take into account, among other relevant factors—

**(1)** the nature and significance of the acts, policies, and practices that deny mutually advantageous market opportunities to telecommunications products and services of United States firms;

**(2)** the economic benefits (actual and potential) accruing to foreign firms from open access to the United States market;

**(3)** the potential size of the market of a foreign country for telecommunications products and services of United States firms;

**(4)** the potential to increase United States exports of telecommunications products and services, either directly or through the establishment of a beneficial precedent; and

**(5)** measurable progress being made to eliminate the objectionable acts, policies, or practices.

**(c)** **Revocations and additional identifications**

**(1)** The Trade Representative may at any time, after taking into account the factors described in subsection (b)—

if information available to the Trade Representative indicates that such action is appropriate.

**(A)** revoke the identification of any priority foreign country that was made under this section, or

**(B)** identify any foreign country as a priority foreign country under this section,

**(2)** The Trade Representative shall include in the semiannual report submitted to the Congress under section 2419(3) of this title a detailed explanation of the reasons for the revocation under paragraph (1) of this subsection of any identification of any foreign country as a priority foreign country.

**(d)** **Report to Congress** By no later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the investigation conducted under subsection (a) is completed, the United States Trade Representative shall submit a report on the investigation to the President and to appropriate committees of the Congress.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1374, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1217.)