USC Subchapter XXVI

in effect

22 U.S.C. § 290k Acceptance of membership

The President is hereby authorized to accept membership for the United States in the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Agency”) provided for by the Convention Establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Convention”) deposited in the archives of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Bank”).

22 U.S.C. § 290k–1 Governor and Alternate Governor

The Governor and Alternate Governor of the Bank, appointed under section 286a of this title, shall serve as Governor and Alternate Governor, respectively, of the Agency.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–2 Instructions for United States Director

Immediately after taking office and prior to the issuance by the Agency of its first guarantee, the United States Director of the Agency shall propose and actively seek the adoption by the Board of Directors of policies and procedures under which the Agency will not issue guarantees in respect of any proposed investment that would— (1) be in any country which has not taken or is not taking steps to afford internationally recognized workers’ rights to workers in that country; (2) be subject to trade-distorting performance requirements imposed by the host country that are likely to result in a significant net reduction in—(A) employment in the United States or other member countries; or (B) other trade benefits likely to accrue to the United States or other member countries from the investment; or (3) increase a country’s productive capacity in an industry already facing excess worldwide capacity for the same, similar or competing product, and cause substantial injury to producers of such product in another member country.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–3 Opposition to certain guarantees or investment promotions; independent evaluation of guaranteed investments

Consistent with the purposes of section 290k–2 of this title, the Secretary of the Treasury shall— (1) instruct the United States Director to oppose, and to actively seek the concurrence of other members of the Board of Directors in opposing, any guarantee or other investment promotion under consideration by the Agency if the proposed investment would—(A) be in any country which is not a beneficiary developing country for purposes of title V of the Trade Act of 1974 [19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.] because it has not taken or is not taking steps to afford internationally-recognized workers’ rights to workers in that country; (B) be subject to trade-distorting performance requirements imposed by the host country that are likely to result in a significant net reduction in—(i) employment in the United States; or (ii) other trade benefits likely to accrue to the United States from the investment; or (C) likely increase a country’s productive capacity in an industry already facing excess worldwide capacity for the same, similar or competing product, and cause substantial injury to producers of such products in the United States; and (2) within 12 months after the United States becomes a member of the Agency and each year thereafter for the 3 succeeding years, conduct an independent evaluation of the United States investments which have been guaranteed by the Agency to determine—(A) the anticipated net impact of such investments on employment in and exports from the United States, and (B) the extent to which such investments were made in countries which had not taken or are not taking steps to afford internationally-recognized workers’ rights to workers in those countries. In the course of conducting each evaluation required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall actively solicit and take into account the views of United States labor organizations. The Secretary shall furnish a copy of each such evaluation on its completion to the Congress.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–4 Consultation with representatives of private sector and of labor organizations on Agency policy directions and operations

Recognizing that United States participation in the Agency represents an effort to enhance United States trade prospects and strengthen the role of the United States private sector in the development process, the Secretary of the Treasury shall ensure regular and continuing consultations with United States private sector representatives and representatives of United States labor organizations, through appropriate mechanisms, on policy directions and operations of the Agency, and shall take account of those consultations in determining the policies of the United States toward the Agency.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–5 Applicability of Bretton Woods Agreements Act

The provisions of section 286b of this title shall apply with respect to the Agency to the same extent as with respect to the Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–6 Restrictions

Unless authorized by law, neither the President nor any person or agency shall, on behalf of the United States— (1) subscribe to additional shares of stock of the Agency; (2) vote for or agree to any amendment of the Convention which increases the obligations of the United States, or which changes the purpose or functions of the Agency; or (3) make a loan or provide other financing to the Agency.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–7 Federal Reserve banks as depositories

Any Federal Reserve bank that is requested to do so by the Agency shall act as its depository or as its fiscal agent, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall supervise and direct the carrying out of these functions by the Federal Reserve banks.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–8 Subscription of stock

(a) Authority of Secretary of the TreasuryThe Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to subscribe on behalf of the United States to 20,519 shares of the capital stock of the Agency, except that the subscription shall be effective only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts. (b) Authorization of appropriationsIn order to pay for United States subscription authorized in subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated, without fiscal year limitation, $222,015,580, for payment by the Secretary of the Treasury. (c) Dividends deposited into TreasuryAny payment of dividends made to the United States by the Agency shall be deposited into the Treasury as a miscellaneous receipt.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–9 Jurisdiction of United States courts and enforcement of arbitral awards

For the purposes of any civil action which may be brought within the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, by or against the Agency in accordance with the Convention, including an action brought to enforce an arbitral award against the Agency, the Agency shall be deemed to be an inhabitant of the Federal judicial district in which its principal office within the United States or its agent appointed for the purpose of accepting service or notice of service is located, and any such action to which the Agency shall be a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States, and the district courts of the United States, including the courts enumerated in section 460 of title 28, shall have original jurisdiction of any such action. When the Agency is a defendant in any action in a State court, it may at any time before the trial thereof remove the action into the appropriate district court of the United States by following the procedure for removal provided in section 1446 of title 28.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–10 Effectiveness of Convention

Articles 43 through 48, inclusive, of the Convention shall have full force and effect in the United States, its territories and possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, upon the entry into force of the Convention for the United States.

22 U.S.C. § 290k–11 Arbitral awards; enforcement; full faith and credit; Federal Arbitration Act inapplicable; exclusiveness of district court jurisdiction

(a) An award of an arbitral tribunal resolving a dispute arising under Article 57 or Article 58 of the Convention shall create a right arising under a treaty of the United States. The pecuniary obligations imposed by such an award shall be enforced and shall be given the same full faith and credit as if the award were a final judgment of a court of general jurisdiction of one of the several States. The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. 1, et seq.) shall not apply to enforcement of awards rendered pursuant to the Convention. (b) The district courts of the United States (including the courts enumerated in section 460 of title 28) shall have exclusive jurisdiction over actions and proceedings under subsection (a) of this section, regardless of the amount in controversy.