U.S Code last checked for updates: Aug 20, 2025
All TitlesTitle 15Chapter 2B
§ 78dd–3.
Prohibited foreign trade practices by persons other than issuers or domestic concerns
(a)
Prohibition
It shall be unlawful for any person other than an issuer that is subject to
(1)
any foreign official for purposes of—
(A)
(i)
influencing any act or decision of such foreign official in his official capacity, (ii) inducing such foreign official to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official, or (iii) securing any improper advantage; or
(B)
inducing such foreign official to use his influence with a foreign government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision of such government or instrumentality,
in order to assist such person in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person;
(2)
any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office for purposes of—
(A)
(i)
influencing any act or decision of such party, official, or candidate in its or his official capacity, (ii) inducing such party, official, or candidate to do or omit to do an act in violation of the lawful duty of such party, official, or candidate, or (iii) securing any improper advantage; or
(B)
inducing such party, official, or candidate to use its or his influence with a foreign government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision of such government or instrumentality,
in order to assist such person in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person; or
(3)
any person, while knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value will be offered, given, or promised, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, to any foreign political party or official thereof, or to any candidate for foreign political office, for purposes of—
(A)
(i)
influencing any act or decision of such foreign official, political party, party official, or candidate in his or its official capacity, (ii) inducing such foreign official, political party, party official, or candidate to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such foreign official, political party, party official, or candidate, or (iii) securing any improper advantage; or
(B)
inducing such foreign official, political party, party official, or candidate to use his or its influence with a foreign government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision of such government or instrumentality,
in order to assist such person in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person.
(b)
Exception for routine governmental action
(c)
Affirmative defenses
It shall be an affirmative defense to actions under subsection (a) of this section that—
(1)
the payment, gift, offer, or promise of anything of value that was made, was lawful under the written laws and regulations of the foreign official’s, political party’s, party official’s, or candidate’s country; or
(2)
the payment, gift, offer, or promise of anything of value that was made, was a reasonable and bona fide expenditure, such as travel and lodging expenses, incurred by or on behalf of a foreign official, party, party official, or candidate and was directly related to—
(A)
the promotion, demonstration, or explanation of products or services; or
(B)
the execution or performance of a contract with a foreign government or agency thereof.
(d)
Injunctive relief
(1)
When it appears to the Attorney General that any person to which this section applies, or officer, director, employee, agent, or stockholder thereof, is engaged, or about to engage, in any act or practice constituting a violation of subsection (a) of this section, the Attorney General may, in his discretion, bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to enjoin such act or practice, and upon a proper showing, a permanent injunction or a temporary restraining order shall be granted without bond.
(2)
For the purpose of any civil investigation which, in the opinion of the Attorney General, is necessary and proper to enforce this section, the Attorney General or his designee are empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, or other documents which the Attorney General deems relevant or material to such investigation. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence may be required from any place in the United States, or any territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States, at any designated place of hearing.
(3)
In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Attorney General may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, or other documents. Any such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Attorney General or his designee, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
(4)
All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district in which such person resides or may be found. The Attorney General may make such rules relating to civil investigations as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this subsection.
(e)
Penalties
(1)
(A)
Any juridical person that violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $2,000,000.
(B)
Any juridical person that violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 imposed in an action brought by the Attorney General.
(2)
(A)
Any natural person who willfully violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(B)
Any natural person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 imposed in an action brought by the Attorney General.
(3)
Whenever a fine is imposed under paragraph (2) upon any officer, director, employee, agent, or stockholder of a person, such fine may not be paid, directly or indirectly, by such person.
(f)
Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(1)
The term “person”, when referring to an offender, means any natural person other than a national of the United States (as defined in section 1101 of title 8 1
1
 So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should appear.
or any corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, business trust, unincorporated organization, or sole proprietorship organized under the law of a foreign nation or a political subdivision thereof.
(2)
(A)
The term “foreign official” means any officer or employee of a foreign government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such government or department, agency, or instrumentality, or for or on behalf of any such public international organization.
(B)
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “public international organization” means—
(i)
an organization that is designated by Executive order pursuant to section 288 of title 22; or
(ii)
any other international organization that is designated by the President by Executive order for the purposes of this section, effective as of the date of publication of such order in the Federal Register.
(3)
(A)
A person’s state of mind is knowing, with respect to conduct, a circumstance or a result if—
(i)
such person is aware that such person is engaging in such conduct, that such circumstance exists, or that such result is substantially certain to occur; or
(ii)
such person has a firm belief that such circumstance exists or that such result is substantially certain to occur.
(B)
When knowledge of the existence of a particular circumstance is required for an offense, such knowledge is established if a person is aware of a high probability of the existence of such circumstance, unless the person actually believes that such circumstance does not exist.
(4)
(A)
The term “routine governmental action” means only an action which is ordinarily and commonly performed by a foreign official in—
(i)
obtaining permits, licenses, or other official documents to qualify a person to do business in a foreign country;
(ii)
processing governmental papers, such as visas and work orders;
(iii)
providing police protection, mail pick-up and delivery, or scheduling inspections associated with contract performance or inspections related to transit of goods across country;
(iv)
providing phone service, power and water supply, loading and unloading cargo, or protecting perishable products or commodities from deterioration; or
(v)
actions of a similar nature.
(B)
The term “routine governmental action” does not include any decision by a foreign official whether, or on what terms, to award new business to or to continue business with a particular party, or any action taken by a foreign official involved in the decision-making process to encourage a decision to award new business to or continue business with a particular party.
(5)
The term “interstate commerce” means trade, commerce, transportation, or communication among the several States, or between any foreign country and any State or between any State and any place or ship outside thereof, and such term includes the intrastate use of—
(A)
a telephone or other interstate means of communication, or
(B)
any other interstate instrumentality.
(Pub. L. 95–213, title I, § 104A, as added Pub. L. 105–366, § 4, Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3306.)
cite as: 15 USC 78dd-3
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