International Coffee Agreement Act of 1979
PL 96-599 (H.R.3637), enacted 12/24/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-599—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3491 
Public Law 96-599 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To carry out the obligations of the United States under the International Coffee 
Agreement 1976, signed at New York on February 27, 1976, and entered into 
force for the United States on October 1, 1976, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "International Coffee 
Agreement Act of 1980". 
IMPORTATION OF COFFEE UNDER INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AGREEMENT 
1976; PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND DUTIES 
Dec. 24, 1980 
[H.R. 3637] 
International 
Coffee 
Agreement 
Act of 1980. 
19 u s e 1356k 
note. 
SEC. 2. On and after the entry into force of the International Coffee 1
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Agreement 1976, and for such period prior to October 1, 1982 as the 
agreement remains in effect, the President is authorized, in order to 
carry out and enforce the provisions of 
that agreement— 
(1) to regulate the entry of coffee for consumption, or with-
drawal of coffee from warehouse for consumption, or any other 
form of entry or withdrawal of coffee such as for transportation 
or exportation, including whenever quotas are in effect pursuant 
to the agreement, (A) the limitation of entry, or withdrawal from 
warehouse, of coffee imported from countries which are not 
members of the International Coffee Organization, and (B) the 
prohibition of entry of any shipment from any member of the 
International Coffee Organization of coffee which is not accom-
panied either by a valid certificate of origin, a valid certificate of 
reexport, a valid certificate of reshipment, or a valid certificate of 
transit, issued by a qualified agency in such form as required 
under the agreement; 
(2) to require that every export or reexport of coffee from the 
United States shall be accompanied by a valid certificate of 
origin or a valid certificate of reexport, issued by a qualified 
agency of the United States designated by him, in such form as 
required under the agreement; 
(3) to require the keeping of such records, statistics, and other 
information, and the rendering of such reports, relating to the 
importation, distribution, prices, and consumption of coffee as he 
may from time to time prescribe; and 
(4) to take such other action, and issue and enforce such rules 
and regulations, as he may consider necessary or appropriate in 
order to implement the obligations of the United States under 
the agreement, 
DEFINITION OF COFFEE 
SEC. 3. As used in this Act, the term "coffee" means coffee as 1
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defined in article 3 of the International Coffee Agreement 1976. 28 UST 640i. 
94 STAT. 3492 
PUBLIC LAW 96-599—DEC. 24, 1980 
19 u s e 1356m. 
Report to 
Congress. 
Recommenda-
tions, submittal 
to Congress. 
19 u s e 1356n. 
28 UST 6401. 
DELEGATION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND DUTIES; PROTECTION OF 
INTERESTS OF UNITED STATES CONSUMERS; REMEDIAL ACTION 
SEC. 4. The President may exercise any powers and duties conferred 
on him by sections 2 through 5 of this Act through such agency or 
officer as he shall direct. The powers and duties conferred by sections 
2 through 5 of this Act shall be exercised in the manner the President 
considers appropriate to protect the interest of United States 
consumers. In the event the President determines that there has been 
an unwarrantied increase in the price of coffee due in whole or in part 
to the International Coffee Agreement, or to market manipulation by 
two or more members of the International Coffee Organization, the 
President shall request the International Coffee Council or the 
Executive Board to increase supplies of coffee available to world 
markets by suspending coffee export quotas and to take any other 
appropriate action. At the same time he shall report his determina-
tion to the Congress. In the event the International Coffee Council 
has failed to take corrective action to remedy the situation within a 
reasonable time after such request, the President shall submit to the 
Congress such recommendations as he may consider appropriate to 
correct the situation. In the event that members of the International 
Coffee Organization involved in market manipulation which has 
resulted in price increases have failed to remedy the situation within 
a reasonable time after a request for remedy, the exercise of the 
authority set forth in section 2 of this Act shall be suspended until the 
President determines that effective market manipulation activities 
have ceased. 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 
SEC. 5. The President shall submit to the Congress an annual report 
on the International Coffee Agreement 1976. Such report shall 
contain full information on the operation of such agreement, includ-
ing full information with respect to the general level of prices of 
coffee and matters pertaining to the transportation of coffee from 
exporting countries to the United States. The report shall also 
include a summary of the actions the United States and the Interna-
tional Coffee Organization have taken to protect the interest of 
United States consumers. 
Approved December 24, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT: No. 96-1322 (Comm. on Ways and Means). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Dec. 2, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 15, considered and passed Senate.