Quadrilateral Meetings - These are meetings involving trade ministers from the U.S., the European Community, Canada, and Japan to discuss trade policy matters. 

Quantitative Restrictions - Explicit limits, usually by volume, on the amount of a specified commodity that may be imported into a country, sometimes also indicating the amounts that may be imported from each supplying country. Compared to tariffs, the protection afforded by QR's tends to be more predictable, being less affected by changes in competitive factors. Quotas have been used at times to favor preferred sources of supply. The GATT generally prohibits the use of quantitative restrictions, except in special cases, such as those cited in Articles XX (which permits exceptions to protect public health, national gold stocks, goods of archeological or historic interest, and a few other special categories of goods), or Article XXI (which permits exceptions in the interest of "national security"), or for safeguard purposes, when the appropriate procedures in Article XIX have been followed.

Rank in Person - The personal rank that a Foreign Service officer maintains even when occupying a job of higher or lower rank. 

Reciprocal Defense Procurement Memoranda of Understanding - Reciprocal memoranda of understanding (MOU) are broad bilateral umbrella MOUs that seek to reduce trade barriers on defense procurement. They usually call for the waiver of "buy national" restrictions, customs and duties to allow the contractors of the signatories to participate, on a competitive basis, in the defense procurement of the other country. These agreements were designed in the late 1970's to promote rationalization, standardization, and interoperability of defense equipment within NATO. At that time, the MOU's were also intended to reduce the large defense trade advantage the United States possessed over the European allies. The first agreements were signed in 1978.

Reexports - For export control purposes: the shipment of U.S. origin products from one foreign destination to another. For statistical reporting purposes: exports of foreign-origin merchandise which have previously entered the United States for consumption or into Customs bonded warehouses for U.S. Foreign Trade Zones.

Reserve Tranche - Member countries of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have a reserve tranche position to the extent that their quotas exceed the IMF's holdings of its currency in the General Resources Account, excluding holdings arising out of purchases made by the member under all policies on the use of the IMF's general resources. A member may purchase up to the full amount of its reserve tranche at any time, subject only to the requirement of balance of payments need. A reserve tranche position does not constitute a use of IMF credit and is not subject to charges or to an expectation or obligation to repurchase.  See: International Monetary Fund. 

Residual Restrictions - Quantitative restrictions that have been maintained by governments before they became contracting parties to GATT and, hence, permissible under the GATT "grandfather clause." Most of the residual restrictions still in effect are maintained by developed countries against the imports of agricultural products.

Restrictive Business Practices - Actions in the private sector, such as collusion among the largest international suppliers, designed to restrict competition so as to keep prices relatively high.

Returned Without Action - For export control purposes: the return of a license application without action is used when the application is incomplete, additional information is required, or the product is eligible for a General License. 

Reverse Preferences - Tariff advantages once offered by developing countries to imports from certain developed countries that granted them preferences. Reverse preferences characterized trading arrangements between the European Community and some developing countries prior to the advent of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the signing of the Lom Convention.

Revocation of Antidumping Duty Order & Termination of Suspended - Investigation  - An antidumping duty order may be revoked or a suspended investigation may be terminated upon application from a party to the proceeding. Ordinarily the application is considered only if there have been no sales at less than fair value for at least the two most recent years. However, the International Trade Administration may on its own initiative revoke an antidumping duty order or terminate a suspended investigation if there have not been sales at less than fair value for a period of 3 years. See: Tariff Act of 1930.

Rio Group - The Rio Group is a political forum of Latin American and Caribbean countries which promotes regional political, economic and social cooperation. The Group is comprised of 13 countries, including 11 permanent members: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela and two rotating members which representing the Central American countries and the Caribbean nations.

Rollback - Rollback refers to an agreement among Uruguay Round participants to dismantle all trade-restrictive or distorting measures that are inconsistent with the provisions of the GATT. Measures subject to rollback would be phased out or brought into conformity within an agreed timeframe, no later than by the formal completion of the negotiations. The rollback agreement is accompanied by a commitment to "standstill" on existing trade-restrictive measures. Rollback is also used as a reference to the imposition of quantitative restrictions at levels less than those occurring in the present.  See: Standstill.

Rounds - Cycles of multilateral trade negotiations under GATT, culminating in simultaneous agreements among participating countries to reduce tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.  - 1st Round: 1947, Geneva (creation of the GATT) - 2nd Round: 1949, Annecy, France (tariff reduction) - 3rd Round: 1951, Torquay, England (accession & tariff reduction) - 4th Round: 1956, Geneva (accession and tariff reduction) - 5th Round: 1960-62, Geneva ("Dillon" Round; revision of GATT; addition of more countries) - 6th Round: 1964-67, Geneva ("Kennedy" Round) - 7th Round: 1973-79, Geneva ("Tokyo" Round) - 8th Round: 1986-93, Geneva ("Uruguay" Round)

Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - RUIE promotes commercial links between Western firms and Soviet defense firms. The Union, an independent agency created by the Russian Central government, consists of hundreds of major enterprises and associations. 

Safeguards - The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) permits two forms of multilateral safeguards: (a) a country's right to impose temporary import controls or other trade restrictions to prevent commercial injury to domestic industry, and (b) the corresponding right of exporters not to be deprived arbitrarily of access to markets.  Article XIX of the GATT permits a country whose domestic industries or workers are adversely affected by increased imports to withdraw or modify concessions the country had earlier granted, to impose, for a limited period, new import restrictions if the country can establish that a product is "being imported in such increased quantities as to cause or threaten serious injury to domestic producers," and to keep such restrictions in effect for a such time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy such injury.

Sales Representative - An agent who distributes, represents, services, or sells goods on behalf of foreign sellers.

Saudi Arabian Standards Organization - SASO was established in April 1972 as the sole Saudi Arabian government organization to promulgate standards and measurements in the kingdom.  Primarily, SASO promulgates standards for electrical equipment and some food products. Some of these standards have been adopted by the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Schedule B - Schedule B is a U.S. Bureau of the Census publication and is based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System). Export statistics are initially collected and compiled in terms of approxiximately 8,000 commodity classifications in Schedule B, Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported from the United States.  See: Tariff Schedules of the United States Annotated.

Scope Determinations - Scope determinations deal with the product coverage of antidumping and countervailing duty orders. The Department of Commerce will determine -- in response to an application from an interested party or on its own initiative -- whether a certain product is included within the scope of an antidumpting and countervailing duty order. 

Section 201 - Section 201, the "escape clause" provision of the Trade Act of 1974, permits temporary import relief, not to exceed a maximum of eight years, to a domestic industry which is seriously injured, or threatened with serious injury, due to increased imports. Import relief, granted at the President's discretion, generally takes the form of increased tariffs or quantitative restrictions. To be eligible for section 201 relief, the International Trade Commission (ITC) must determine that: (a) the industry has been seriously injured or threatened to be injured and (b) imports have been a substantial cause (not less than any other cause) of that injury.  Industries need not prove that an unfair trade practice exists, as is necessary under the antidumping and countervailing duty laws. However, under section 201, a greater degree of injury -- "serious" injury -- must be found to exist, and imports must be a "substantial" cause (defined as not less than any other cause) of that injury.  If the ITC finding is affirmative, the President's remedy may be a tariff increase, quantitative restrictions, or orderly marketing agreements. At the conclusion of any relief action, the Commission must report on the effectiveness of the relief action in facilitating the positive adjustment of the domestic industry to import competition. If the decision is made not to grant relief, the President must provide an explanation to the Congress.  See: Escape clause, Trade Act of 1974.

Section 232 - Under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, Commerce determines whether articles are being imported into the U.S. in quantities or circumstances that threaten national security. Based on the investigation report, the President can adjust imports of the article(s) in question.  Commerce must report on the effects these imports have on national security and make recommendations for action or inaction within 270 days after starting an investigation. Within 90 days of the report, the President decides whether to take action to adjust imports on the basis of national security. The President must notify Congress of his decision within 30 days.  See: Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Section 337 - Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 requires investigations of unfair practices in import trade. Under this authority, the International Trade Commission applies U.S. statutory and common law of unfair competition to the importation of products into the United States and their sale. Section 337 prohibits unfair competition and unfair importing practices and sales of products in the U.S., when these threaten to: (a) destroy or substantially injure a domestic industry, (b) prevent the establishment of such an industry, or (c) restrain or monopolize U.S. trade and commerce. Section 337 also prohibits infringement of U.S. patents, copyrights, registered trademarks, or mask works. See: Tariff Act of 1930.

Section 416 - Section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 provides for the donation of food and feed commodities owned by Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation and is focused on people in developing countries.  See: Food For Peace, Food For Progress.

Selling, General and Administrative (Expenses) - SGA is the sum of: - General and administrative expenses (such as: salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, heat, and light); - Direct selling expenses (that is, expenses that can be directly tied to the sale of a specific unit, such as: credit, warranty, and advertising expenses); and - Indirect selling expenses (that is, expenses which cannot be directly tied to the sale of a specific unit but which are proportionally allocated to all units sold during a certain period, such as: telephone, interest, and postal charges). 

Semiconductor Trade Arrangement - The U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Trade Arrangement is a bilateral agreement which came into effect on August 1, 1991, replacing the prior 1986 Semiconductor Trade Arrangement. The new Arrangement contains provisions to: (a) increase foreign access to the Japanese semiconductor market and (b) deter dumping of semiconductors by Japanese suppliers into the U.S. market, as well as in third country markets. In evaluating market access improvement, both governments agreed to pay particular attention to market share. The expectation of a 20 percent foreign market share by the end of 1992 is included in the Arrangement. The Arrangement explicitly states, however, that the 20 percent figure is not a guarantee, a ceiling, or a floor on the foreign market share.

Senior Commercial Officer - The SCO is the senior U.S. and Foreign Commercial Officer at an embassy and reports in-country to the Ambassador. At major posts, this position carries the title of Commercial Counselor; in key posts, Minister Counselor. Usually reporting to the SCO are a Commercial Attache and Commercial officers. The latter are sometimes assigned to subordinate posts throughout the country.

Shared Foreign Sales Corporation - A shared FSC is a foreign sales corporation consisting of more than one and less than 25 unrelated exporters. See: Foreign Sales Corporation.

SHIELD - SHIELD is an interagency export control committee that reviews licenses involving chemical or biological weapons.

Shipment - A shipment is all of the cargo carried under the terms of a single bill of lading.

Short Supply - Commodities in short supply may be subject to export controls to protect the domestic economy from the excessive drain of scarce materials and to reduce the serious inflationary impact of satisfying foreign demand. Items that the U.S. controls for short supply purposes include petroleum and petroleum products, unprocessed western red cedar, and shipment of horses by sea. The controls are included in the Export Administration Regulations.

Single European Act - The SEA, which entered into force in July 1987, was the first significant revision of the Treaty of Rome. The SEA provides the legal and procedural support for achievement of the single European Market by 1992. The SEA revised the EEC Treaty and, where not already provided for in the Treaty, majority decisions were introduced for numerous votes facing the Council of Ministers, particularly those affecting establishment of the single European Market and the European financial common market. The role of the European Parliament was strengthened; decisions on fiscal matters remained subject to unanimity.

Single Internal Market Information Service - SIMIS, operated by the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, provides information, assistance, and advice on how to do business in the European Community's internal market. Telephone: 202-482-5276.

Sistema de Informacion al Comercio Exterior - SICE (English: Foreign Trade Information System) is a databank which provides foreign trade information to the public and private sectors of member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS). The System includes information on the U.S. import and export markets, markets of other OAS member countries, and trade information on the European Community and Japan.

Sociedad Anonima - S.A. (Spanish: "incorporated company") is a form of corporation which must have at least five shareholders, who may be either Mexican or foreign. Each shareholder is liable only up to the amount of their contribution. No shares may be held by the company name. "S.A." must follow the firm name, indicating that it is a corporation. 

Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable - SA de CV (Spanish: "variable capital company"), similarly to SA, must have at least five shareholders, who may be either Mexican or foreign. Each shareholder is liable only up to the amount of their contribution. SA de CV differs from SA in that an SA de CV may own its shares. "S.A. de C.V." must follow the firm name indicating that it a corporation with variable capital.

Societ a Responsabilit Limitata - "Srl" (Italian) is a private company.

Societ in Nome Collettivo - "Snc" (Italian) is a general partnership in which there is no limit on the liability of the partners.

Societ Per Azioni - "SpA" (Italian: public corporation) must have at least two shareholders at formation; after formation, the requirement is reduced to one shareholder. 

Socit Anonyme - S.A. (French: "incorporated") is a form of corporation which must have at least seven shareholders, who may be either French or foreign. Each member is liable only up to the amount of stock owned.

Socit en Commandit Simple - Socit en commandit simple (French: "limited partnership") is composed of general partners, of which the managing partner at least must have unlimited liability, and silent partners whose liability is limited to the amount of their capital contributions. Silent partners are not permitted to perform any management functions vis-a-vis other partners. In a limited partnership without shares, transfer of shares of the limited partners is only allowable with the consent of all the partners. In a limited partnership with shares (Socit en commandit par actions), these are transferred in a manner similar to corporations.

Socit Internationale Financire pour les Investissements et le Dveloppement en Afrique  - SIFIDA fosters the formation of profitable business in Africa by identifying and nurturing productive projects, by arranging for syndicated loans, and by providing export finance. The Society is a holding company affiliated with the African Development Bank (AfDB); headquarters are in Chne-Bourg, Switzerland. Major shareholders include the AfDB, the International Finance Corporation and more than 100 financial, industrial, and commercial institutions around the world. 

Soft Loan - Commonly, a loan from a government or multilateral development bank with a long repayment period and below-market interest. 

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation - SAARC promotes economi , technical, scientific, and social cooperation among members. The Association was founded in 1985 by seven countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Association plans to establish a South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) by 1997 as a step toward creating an economic community in south Asia.

South Asia Preferential Trading Arrangement - See: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

Southern Africa Development Community - SADC, established in April 1980 (as the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference), is a regional economic pact comprising Angola,  Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Since a change in name and focus in mid-1992, the Community focuses solely on development, leaving trade matters to the Preferential Trade Agreement for Eastern and Southren Africa (PTA). Community headquarters are in Gaborone, Botswana.

Southern Common Market - See: Mercosur.

Southern Cone - The southern cone consists of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. With the exception of Chile, these countries also comprise the Southern Common Market.

South Group - See: Danish International Development Assistance.

South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation - See: South Pacific Forum.

South Pacific Forum - The SPF is a regional arrangement for convening 15 governments and territories for deliberations on issues of mutual interest. The Forum was established in 1971; headquarters are in Suva, Fiji; members include: Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kirbati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanatu. The South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation (SPEC) is a subsidiary organization which promotes regional cooperation in the development of the island members in partnership with the more industrially developed countries of the region: Australia and New Zealand. 

Special American Business Internship Training Program - SABIT, originally the Soviet-American Business Internship Training Program, is a cooperative program that brings business executives and scientists from the former Soviet Union or three-to six-month internships with American companies. The program teaches these managers and scientists how to operate in a market economy at the same time that American businesses development market contacts once their interns return home. Soviet business managers are referred by the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration to sponsoring U.S. companies, which make the final selection of their interns. The program matches U.S. corporate sponsors with Soviet business executives from the same industries. The Independent States provide transportation; the companies provide living expenses and training in management techniques (production, distribution, marketing, accounting, wholesaling, and publishing).

Special and Differential Treatment - The principle, enunciated in the Tokyo Declaration, that the Tokyo Round negotiations should seek to accord particular benefits to the exports of developing countries, consistent with their trade, financial, and development needs. Among proposals for special or differential treatment are reduction or elimination of tariffs applied to exports of developing countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), expansion of product and country coverage of the GSP, accelerated implementation of tariff cuts agreed to in the Tokyo Round for developing country exports, substantial reduction or elimination of tariff escalation, special provisions for developing country exports in any new codes of conduct covering nontariff measures, assurance that any new multilateral safeguard system will contain special provisions for developing country exports, and the principle that developed countries will expect less than full reciprocity for trade concessions they grant developing countries. 

Special Drawing Rights - SDRs are international reserve assets, created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1970 and allocated to individual member nations. Within conditions set by the IMF, SDRs can be used by a nation with a deficit in its balance of international payments to settle debts with another nation or with the IMF. The value of SDRs is computed as a weighted average of five currencies: deutsche mark, French franc, Japanese yen, pound sterling, and U.S. dollar.

Stand-By Arrangements - A stand-by arrangement, like an extended arrangement, assures a member country of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will be able to make purchases up to a specified amount from the IMF during a given period, as long as the member has observed the performance criteria and other terms specified in the arrangement. Stand-by arrangements extend up to three years.  See: International Monetary Fund.

State Export Program Database - The SEPD is a trade lead system maintained by the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA). The SEPD includes information on state operated trade lead systems.

State/Industry-Organized, Government Approved - See: Certified Trade Missions.

State Trading Enterprises - STEs are entities established by governments to import, export and/or produce certain products. Examples include: government-operated import/export monopolies and marketing boards or private companies that receive special or exclusive privileges from their governments to engage in trading activities.

Statistical Office of the European Community - EUROSTAT provides European Economic Community-wide statistics on economics, finance, foreign trade, services, transportation, industry, population, social conditions, energy, atricutlrual, forestry, and other topics. Eurostat offices are located in Luxembourg.

Strategic Level of Controls - Commodity groupings used for export control purposes.  See: Export Control Classification Number.

Structural Adjustment Facility - See: Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility.

Suspension of Investigation - A decision to suspend an antidumping investigation if the exporters who account for substantially all of the imported merchandise agree to stop exports to the U.S. or agree to revise their prices promptly to eliminate any dumping margin. An investigation may be suspended at any time before a final determination is made. No agreement to suspend an investigation may be made unless effective monitoring of the agreement is practicable and is determined to be in the public interest.  See: Tariff Act of 1930.

Swap Network - The swap network is a series of bilateral arrangements between the Federal Reserve and fourteen foreign central banks and the Bank for International Settlements providing standby reciprocal facilities for obtaining foreign currencies. The facilities provide for the swap (simultaneous spot purchase and forward sale) of each other's currency by the Federal Reserve and the respective foreign central bank. Swap drawings typically have a three-month maturity, with an understanding that they may be more or less automatically rolled over for another three months. 

Swedish International Development Authority - SIDA, an agency responsible to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, administers the greater portion of Swedish development cooperation.  Swedish development assistance is directed toward five goals: economic growth, economic and social equality, economic and political independence, democratic development, and environmental quality. About 50 percent of Sweden's development assistance is directed toward a limited number of designated "program countries" in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and involves negotiated efforts to integrate external assistance and long-term development strategies. The remaining assistance is allocated to UN agencies, international development banks, and about 90 countries. The Authority was established in 1965; headquarters are in Stockholm, Sweden. See: Swedish International Enterprise Development Corporation.

Swedish International Enterprise Development Corporation - SwedeCorp, a government funded under Sweden's aid program, supports enterprise development through joint venture investments in developing countries and in Central and Eastern Europe. The Corporation also encourages the transfer of industrial and commercial knowledge from Sweden to third world countries and promotes exports from developing countries to Sweden. The Corporation was formed in July 1991 based on a reorganization of international industry assistance programs; headquarters are in Stockholm, Sweden.  See: Swedish International Development Authority.

System for Tracking Export License Applications - STELA is a BXA computer-generated voice unit that interfaces with the BXA database: ECASS (Export Control Automated Support System). STELA enables a caller to check on an export license by making a telephone call.  202-482-2752

Tax Information Exchange Agreement - A TIEA imposes on the agreeing countries a mutual and reciprocal obligation to exchange information relating to the enforcement of their respective tax laws. A TIEA provides a means by which a signatory government can pursue certain tax evaders, particularly in cases involving large tax claims or drug enforcement. Countries that sign a TIEA agree to: (a) exhange tax information at the government level in a form admissable to U.S. or host country courts; (b) collect information without regard to the taxpayer's nationality; (c) establish a means for compelling the production of tax information; and (d) ensure that local laws do not prohibit the sharing of tax information. A TIEA can support tourism in a signatory country because the Agreement facilitates Internal Revenue Service approval of the destination as a necessary business expense (deductible for Federal income tax purposes) for U.S. citizens and companies which seek to justify attendance at business conventions and seminars in a signatory country. 

Technical Advisory Committees - The TACs are voluntary groups of industry and government representatives who provide guidance and expertise to Commerce on export control matters including evaluation of technical issues; worldwide availability, use and production of technology; and licensing procedures related to specific industries. TACs have been set up for: (a) materials (Materials Technical Advisory Committe, MATAC), (b) biotechnology (Biotechnology Technical Advisory Committee, BIOTAC), (c) computer systems (CSTAC), (d) electronics (ETAC) (formerly "semiconductors"), (e) sensors (STAC) (formerly "electronic instrumentation"), (f) materials processing equipment (MPETAC) (formerly "automated manufacturing equipment"), (g) regulations and procedures (RPTAC), (h) telecommunications equipment (TETAC), and (i) transportation and related equipment (TRANSTAC).

Technical Barrier to Trade - According to the Standards Code, a specification which sets forth characteristics or standards a product must meet (such as levels of quality, performance, safety, or dimensions) in order to be imported. 

Technology - BXA regulations define technical data as "information of any kind that can be used, or adapted for use, in the design, production, manufacture, utilization, or reconstruction of articles or materials. Technology can be either "tangible" or "intangible." Models, prototypes, blueprints or operating manuals (even if stored on recording media) are examples of tangible technology. Intangible technology consists of technical services, such as training, oral advice, information guidance and consulting. 

Technology Transfer - This term is used to characterize "the transfer of knowledge generated and developed in one place to another, where is it is used to achieve some practical end." Technology may be transferred in many ways: by giving it away (technical journals, conferences, emigration of technical experts, technical assistance programs); by industrial espionage; or by sale (patents, blueprints, industrial processes, and the activities of multinational corporations).

Temporary Importation under Bond - When an importer makes entry of articles brought into the United States temporarily and claimed to be exempt from duty under Chaper 98, Subchapter III, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, a bond is posted with Customs which guarantees that these items will be exported within a specified time frame (usually within one year from the date of importation). Failure to export these items makes the importer liable for the payment of liquidated damages for breach of the bond conditions. (See 19 CFR 10.31.). The Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB) is usually twice the amount of duties and other payments the importer would otherwise be required to pay. Merchandise imported under TIB is usually for sales,demonstration, testing, or repair.

Terms of Trade - Terms of trade refers to the economic factors affecting a country's foreign trade in goods and services, such as dependency on foreign sourcing and relative competitiveness in production.

Textile Surveillance Body - The TSB is an international body which meets in Geneva at the GATT to monitor the Multi-Fiber Arrangement. The TSB receives reports of all textile restrictions and can make recommendations to participants. It can mediate disputes between parties to the MFA but has no binding powers.  Membership is balanced between importing and exporting members. 

Third Country Initiative - The TCI was created to help countries establish an export control system on strategic commodities. Such countries, while not members of CoCom, would establish export control systems that provide levels of protection as close as possible to those provided by CoCom. Such systems include: (a) import certifications and delivery verifications, (b) controls over reexports of CoCom-origin, controlled goods and indigenous exports of CoCom-controlled goods, (c) cooperation in pre-licensing and post-shipment checks, and (d) cooperation on enforcement matters. The United States supports the third country initiative through section 5(k) of the Export Administration Act, which allows it to provide selected non-CoCom countries with the same licensing benefits provided to CoCom members.

Tied Loan - A loan made by a government agency that requires a foreign borrower to spend the proceeds in the lender's country.

Title and Rank - Ambassadors-at-large have a higher rank than a regular ambassador, depending on circumstances. If at post, the regular ambassador has the higher rank; in other locations, an Ambassador-at-large has the higher rank;

- Heads of Mission are in three classes:

1. Ambassadors or Nuncios (the papal state equivalent of an Ambassador) -- accredited to Heads of State;
2. Envoys, Ministers, and Internuncios -- also accredited to Heads of State; and
3. Charg d'Affaires -- usually accredited to the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

- Envoys (or Special Envoys) represent a special interest (such as for Inter-American Affairs), often the special interest is of limited duration (such as Mideast peace talks);

- The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) is almost always a career officer;

- Principal Officers are the senior officers at constituent posts (that is, at consular establishments);

- The Deputy Principal Officer is a position at large consulates;

- The Charg d'Affairs is the Chief of Mission (COM) at posts to which an Ambassador is not appointed;

- The Charg d'Affaires ad Interim is the acting Ambassador (or COM) when the Ambassador (or COM) is out of the country;

- An Attach may be either fairly high or fairly low; in terms of rank an attach can be anything; a military attach is of at least medium rank;

- Functional designations of civilian Attachs (such as: customs, legal, or science) and foreign service Attachs (such as: agricultural, commercial, cultural, or science) are not part of the diplomatic title;

- A diplomatic agent is anybody that is accredited diplomatic status; - Personna non Grata is an official term, used to designate the need for recalling a diplomatic agent;

- An embassy is the office in country in the capital city where the Ambassador sits;

- A consulate is a diplomatic mission which serves as a constituent post of the embassy in country.

- Order of precedence:

• Chief of Mission (who may or may not be an Ambassador)
• Charg d'Affairs ad Interim (Designate)
• Minister (a position limited to six months under the 1980 Service Act, not used by the U.S.)
• Minister-Counselors
• Counselors
• Army, Naval, or Air Attachs
• Civilian Attachs not of the Foreign Service (agencies may assign their attaches with functional designation, designations include: customs, legal, or science)
• First Secretaries
• Second Secretaries
• Foreign Service Officers with the title of Attach (these titles may or may not include a functional designation; designations include: agricultural, commercial, cultural, or press)
• Assistant Army, Naval, and Air Attaches
• Civilian Assistant Attaches not of the Foreign Service
• Third Secretaries and Assistant Attaches

Precedence of members of the Foreign Service and other U.S. officials depends to a great extent on the situation and the relationship existing at any one time. For example, Foreign Service Officers with the title of Attach are ranked among First and Second Secretaries on the basis of salary; if salaries are the same, they are ranked after the First or Second Secretaries, according to their personal rank. 

 - Consular establishments: A consular establishment, usually located in an area of the host country outside the seat of government, is a place where representatives of the foreign government represent legal interests of their nationals;

-- A consulates is headed by a Principal Officer; a Consulate General is headed by a Principal Officer who is also a Consul General; the distinction between Consulates and Consulates General is often (but not necessarily) one of size of the establishment; status is another factor;

-- A consular section is always attached to an embassy (even though it may be located in a separate facility). The section is headed by a Counsular Chief who oversees that section and any other consular establishments in the country. Consular Officers extend the protection of the U.S. government to U.S. citizens and their property abroad. Their responsibilities include adjudication of visas and passports and assistance to U.S. citizens (birth and death certificates, notarizing documents, maintaining lists of attorneys, and acting as liaison with police and other officials;

-- Order of precedence:

• Consul General
• Deputy Consul General
• Consul
• Vice Consul
• Consular Agent (a title reserved for use in locations where there is no consular establishment)

- Different benefits and different levels of diplomatic immunity flow to officials at diplomatic missions than to officials at consular establishments. This enters into terms of art, resulting from two primary conventions:

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (23 UST 3227) and
• The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (TIAS 6820).

Trade Adjustment Assistance

Trade and Development Agency - TDA grants funds for feasibility studies for large projects on the condition that U.S. firms are used to do the study. Should the project sponsor (usually a foreign government) agree to this condition, the opportunity to do the feasibility study generally is competed among all interested U.S. companies. The project sponsor chooses the company it wants to do the study and enters into a contractual relationship with that company, with TDA underwriting expenses.

• Orientation Visits OVs): TDA occasionally sponsors visits by foreign officials interested in procuring U.S. goods and services for specific projects. Sometimes called "reverse trade missions," OVs provide an opportunity to resolve issues concerning purchases. 
• Definitional Missions (DMs): DMs appraise and clarify proposed projects submitted to the TDA. After receiving a request to fund a major study for a new project, TDA usually hires a technically qualified consultant to visit the country and discuss the plan with the project sponsors. The DM is a preliminary report of the feasibility of the project, its potential financing source, possible foreign competition, and the size and scope of the feasibility study which TDA might fund. The information developed by the DM assists TDA in determining whether to provide feasibility study funding to a project. In addition to making recommendations as to whether the project should be funded or not, the DM consultant works with the project sponsor to define the work program for the proposed feasibility study.
• Feasibility Studies (FSs): FSs assess the economic, financial, and technical viability of potential projects submitted to the Trade and Development Agency. The host countries must hire U.S. firms to undertake the detailed studies of the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed projects. After a foreign grantee has chosen the U.S. firm that will conduct the feasibility study, the grantee and the U.S. company enter into a contract for the feasibility study. The U.S. firms must prepare final reports for TDA. The reports are technical and often hundreds of pages of pages in length. U.S. firms interested in learning about the project during the feasibility study stage, or the potential for supplying goods and services to the project, are free to contact the U.S. firm conducting the feasibility study.

Formerly known as the Trade and Development Program, TDA was renamed in October 1992 under legislation which expanded the Agency's authority by authorizing it to fund architectural and engineering design, support conceptual and detail design studies, and to provide more resources to support procurement opportunities for U.S. companies at the World Bank and other multilateral lending institutions.

Trade Balance - See: Balance of Payments.

Trade Barriers - The United States Trade Representative classifies trade barriers into eight general categories: 

1. Import policies (tariffs and other import charges, quantitative restrictions, import licensing, and customs barriers);
2. standards, testing, labeling, and certification; 
3. government procurement
4. export subsidies; 
5. lack of intellectual property protection; 
6. service barriers; 
7. investment barriers; 
8. other barriers (e.g., barriers encompassing more than one category or barriers affecting a single sector).

Trade Concordance - Trade concordance refers to the matching of Harmonized System (HS) codes to larger statistical definitions, such as the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) system. The Bureau of the Census, the United Nations, as well as individual Federal and private organizations, maintain trade concordances for the purpose of relating trade and production data.

Trade Diversion - Trade diversion refers to the situation in which imports from free trade agreement member countries increase, displacing (or substituting) imports from nonmember countries.

Trade Mission  - Generically, a trade mission is composed of individuals who are taken as a group to meet with prospective customers overseas. Missions visit specific individuals or places with no specific stage setting other than appointments. Appointments are made with government and/or commercial customers, or with individuals who may be a stepping stone to customers.  ITA trade missions are scheduled in selected countries to help participants find local agents, representatives, and distributors, to make direct sales, or to conduct market assessments. Some missions include technical seminars to support sales of sophisticated products and technology in specific markets. ITA missions include planning and publicity, appointments with qualified contacts and with government officials, market briefings and background information on contacts, as well as logistical support and interpreter service. Trade missions also are frequently organized by other Federal, State, or local agencies. 

Trade Negotiations Committee - The TNC is the steering group which manages the Uruguay Round negotiations.  The TNC is comprised of all countries participating in the current negotiations (that is, it is not limited simply to members of the GATT).  Functioning at the non-ministerial level, the TNC serves as a vehicle for transparency.

Trade Policy Committee - The TPC is a cabinet-level, interagency trade committee established by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (chaired by the USTR) to provide broad guidance on trade issues. The Committee was renewed by an Executive Order at the end of the Carter Administration. Toward the end of the first Reagan Administration, with much dissension over Japan policy between the TPC, the Senior Interagency Group (chaired by Treasury), and the other groups, the White House created the Economic Policy Council (EPC) in 1985 as a single forum to reduce tensions.  The Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG) is a subcabinet group which meets about once a week. The TPRG is an ad hoc creation that was not established by law. TPRG membership is fairly fluid; so that agencies which want to participate in a particular discussion can sit at the table.  The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) has met perhaps once a year since 1988. TPSC was established by law to obtain advice from the private sector on topics such as retaliation; it generally serves as a paper clearance structure.  Beneath the TPSC is a large number (60-to-100, exact counts are not maintained) of TPSC subcommittees.  Subcommittees are not independent; they are established ad referendum, to deal with topics of interim interest and are sometimes no more than phone and fax lists of interested parties on a given issue.

Trade Policy Review Group - See: Trade Policy Committee.

Trade Policy Review Mechanism - The TPRM was created at the Uruguay Round mid-term ministerial meeting in Montreal. Under the TPRM, the trade policies of any GATT contracting party are subject to regularly scheduled review by the GATT Council. Reviews may lead to recommendations on ways to improve a contracting party's trade policies.

Trade Policy Staff Committee - See: Trade Policy Committee.

Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee - The TPCC provides a means for all Federal agencies to coordinate their trade promotion activities, eliminate duplication, and to provide a more focused U.S. Government approach to trade promotion. Committee members include 19 Federal agencies: the Departments of Commerce (as chair), Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, and Treasury, the Agency for International Development, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Environmental Protection Agency, Eximbank, the Office of Management and Budget, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Small Business Administration, the Trade and Development Agency, the U.S. Information Agency, and the U.S. Trade Representative. The TPCC formed working groups to aid in coordinating trade promotion programs. Thirteen working groups were operating at the end of 1992: (1) Trade Finance, (2) Food Production, Machinery and Processing, (3) Energy, Environment and Infrastructure, (4) Technology and Aerospace, (5) Services, (6) Enterprise for the Americas, (7) Eastern Europe, (8) Asia and Pacific, (9) State and Local, (10) Minority Business, (11) U.S. Asia Environmental Partnership, (12) Russia, Ukraine, and the Newly Independent States, and (13) Small Business. The TPCC was originally established by Executive Order of the President in May 1990. The Export Enhancement Act of (October) 1992 codified the TPCC.  See: Advocacy Center, Export Enhancement Act of 1992.

Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights - TRIPs refers to U.S. intellectual property rights objectives in the Uruguay Round. These objectives include achieving a comprehensive GATT agreement that would include: (a) substantive standards of protection for all areas of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.); (b) effective enforcement measures (both at the border and internally); and (c) effective dispute settlement provisions. 

Trade-Related Investment Measures - TRIMs require the use of specified amounts of local inputs rather than imported goods, and requirements to export a certain amount of production. The developed countries (with the exception of Australia) favor prohibiting certain TRIMs; virtually all developing countries oppose prohibiting any TRIMs.

Trade Show - A trade show is a stage-setting event in which firms present their products or services to prospective customers in a pre-formatted setting (usually a booth of a certain size which is located adjacent to other potential suppliers). The firms are generally in the same industry but not necessarily of the same nationality. A distinguishing factor between trade fairs and trade shows is size. A trade show is generally viewed as a smaller assembly of participants.

Transshipment - Transshipment refers to the act of sending an exported product through an intermediate country before routing it to the country intended to be its final destination.  See: Pass-through.

Transit Zones - Transit zones, a form of free trade zone, are ports of entry in coastal countries that are established as storage and distribution centers for the convenience of a neighboring country lacking adequate port facilities or access to the sea. A transit zone is administered so that goods in transit to and from the neighboring country are not subject to the customs duties, import controls or many of the entry and exit formalities of the host country. Transit zones are more limited facilities then a foreign trade zone or a free port.  See: Free Trade Zones. 

Transmittal Letter - A list of the particulars of the shipment and a record of the documents being transmitted together with instructions for disposition of documents. Any special instructions are also included.

Transnational Corporation - A TNC is a company which operates in a home country and has an affiliate overseas. The terms transnational corporation and multinational corporation are now used synonymously. Through the 1970s and 1980's the United Nations attempted to assess the impact of TNCs on development and international relations in the world economy. These efforts resulted in considerable complexity in attempting to define a TNC, including associations with impact on developing countries, size, ownership, and other characteristics.  Agreement on a specialized definition was never achieved.

Traveler - A traveler is a person who stays for a period of less than 1 year in a country of which he or she is not a resident. Military and other government personnel and their dependents stationed outside their country of residence are not considered travelers, regardless of the length of their stay abroad; they are considered to have remained within the economy of their home country. The definition of travelers also excludes owners or employees of business enterprises who temporarily work abroad in order to further the enterprise's business, but intend to return to their country of residence within a reasonable period of time.

Travel Mission - A travel mission is a marketing activity carried out in foreign markets which usually involves trade information, presentations, and media activities.

Travel Warning - See: Travel Advisory Program.

Treaties and Other International Acts Series - When a treaty or an executive agreement is first published by the United States, it is assigned a TIAS number and published in slip form in the Treaties and other International Acts Series. TIAS, published by the Department of State, is a series of individual pamphlets.

Treaties in Force - Treaties In Force, published annually by the Department of State, lists all treaties and executive agreements, both bilateral and multilateral, which are considered to be in force for the United States as of January 1 of the respective year.

Treaty - See: Interntional Agreements.

Treaty of European Union - See: Maastricht Treaty.

Treaty of Rome - The Treaty of Rome, enacted in March 1957, established a European customs union and required the elimination of all quantitative restrictions and other measures having an equivalent effect on trade among the European signatory member states. It was intended to create a single market with free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital and envisioned a single internal European market. It became the founding charter for the European Economic Community, which came into being on January 1, 1958. The Treaty had no provisions for monetary arrangements. Accomplishments following the treaty included completion of the customs union and establishment of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  See: Maastricht Treaty.

Trigger Price Mechanism - The TPM is an antidumping mechanism designed to protect U.S. industries from underpriced imports. First used in 1978 to protect the steel industry, the TPM is the price of the lowest cost foreign producer. Imports priced below the trigger price are assessed a duty equal to the difference between their price and the trigger price. 

Tropical Products - Traditionally, agricultural goods of export interest to developing countries in the tropical zones of Africa, Latin America, and East Asia (coffee, tea, spices, bananas, and tropical hardwoods).

Turnkey - A method of construction whereby the contractor assumes total responsibility from design through completion of the project. 

Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit - TEU is a a measure of a ship's cargo-carrying capacity. One TEU measures twenty feet by eight feet by eight feet -- the dimensions of a standard twenty-foot container. An FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit) equals two TEUs.