Except as authorized under subsection (b), employees or members of their family shall not sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of personal property within a foreign country which was imported into or purchased within that foreign country and which, by virtue of the official status of the employee, was exempt from import limitation, customs duties, or taxes which would otherwise apply.
The chief of mission to a foreign country, or a designee of such chief of mission, is authorized to approve within that foreign country sales, assignment, or other dispositions of property by employees under the chief of mission's jurisdiction (as described in section 3927 of this title) to the extent that such sale, assignment, or other disposition is in accordance with regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to section 4343 of this title.
Violation of this section, or other importation, sale, or other disposition of personal property within a foreign country which violates its laws or regulations or governing international law and is prohibited by regulations and policies, rules, and procedures issued pursuant to section 4343 of this title, shall be grounds for disciplinary action against an employee.
22 U.S.C. § 4342
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATESection effective 180 days after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 186(b) of Pub. L. 100-204 set out as a note under section 4741 of this title.
- employee
- The term "employee" means an individual who is under the jurisdiction of a chief of mission to a foreign country (as provided under section 3927 of this title) and who is-(A) an employee as defined by section 2105 of title 5;(B) an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or of the Postal Regulatory Commission;(C) a member of a uniformed service who is not under the command of an area military commander; or(D) an expert or consultant as authorized pursuant to section 3109 of title 5 with the United States or any agency, department, or establishment thereof; but is not a national or permanent resident of the foreign country in which employed.
- foreign country
- The term "foreign country" means any country or territory, excluding the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories or possessions of the United States.
- personal property
- The term "personal property" means any item of personal property, including automobiles, computers, boats, audio and video equipment, and any other items acquired for personal use, but excluding items of minimal value as determined by regulation or policy issued pursuant to section 4343 of this title.