An Act to extend the authority of the President to enter into trade agreements under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and for other purposes.
PL 83-215 (H.R.5495), enacted 08/07/1953

472 
PUBLIC LAW 215-AUG. 7, 1953 
[67 ST A T . 
August 7,1953 
[H. R. 5495] 
T r a d e 
A g r e e -
m e n t s Extension 
Act of 1953. 
Public Law 215 
CHAPTER 348 
AN ACT 
To extend the authority of the President to enter into trade agreements under 
section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Seriate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1953". 
TITLE I—FOREIGN-TRADE AGREEMENTS 
65 Stat. 72. 
65 Stat. 74. 
61 S t a t . pts. 5 
and 6. 
65 Stat. 75. 
19 u s e 
1 3 6 5 ; 
7 u s e 624. 
62 S t a t . 1249. 
7 u s e 624. 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY. 
The period during which the President is authorized to enter into 
foreign-trade agreements under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
as amended and extended (19 U. S. C , sec. 1351), is hereby extended 
for a further period of one year from June 12,1953. 
SEC. 102. TIME FOR CERTAIN REPORTS BY TARIFF COMMISSION. 
The first paragraph of subsection (a) of section 7 of the Trade 
Agreements Extension Act of 1951 (19 U. S. C , sec. 1364) is hereby 
amended by striking out "one year" and inserting in lieu thereof "nine 
months". In the case of any application made under such first para-
graph before the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States 
Tariff Commission shall make its report not later than whichever of 
the following is the earlier: (1) one year after the application was 
made, or (2) nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 103. GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE NOT 
AFFECTED. 
The enactment of this Act shall not be construed to determine or 
indicate the approval or disapproval by the Congress of the Executive 
Agreement known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. 
SEC. 104. EMERGENCY ACTION UNDER SECTION 22 OF THE AGRI-
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ACT. 
Section 8 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951 (Public 
Law 50, Eighty-second Congress, first session) is hereby amended by 
adding a new subsection (c) at the end thereof, reading as follows: 
"(c) Subsection (b) of section22of the Agriculture Adjustment Act, 
as amended, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
" 'In any case where the Secretary of Agriculture determines and 
reports to the President with regard to any article or articles that a 
condition exists requiring emergency treatment, the President may 
take immediate action under this section without awaiting the recom-
mendations of the Tariff Commission, such action to continue in 
effect pending the report and recommendations of the Tariff Com-
mission and action theveon by the President.' " 
TITLE II—UNITED STATES TARIFF 
COMMISSION 
46 Stat. 696. 
19 tree 1330. 
SEC. 201. EFFECT OF DIVIDED VOTE IN CERTAIN CASES. 
Section 330 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, is hereby amended 
by adding a new subsection (d) reading as follow^s: 
"(d) 
EFFECT OF DIVIDED VOTE IN CERTAIN CASES.— 
"(1) "Whenever, in any case calling for findings of the Com-
mission in connection with any authority conferred upon the 
President by law to make changes in import restrictions, a major-
ity of the commissioners voting are unable to agree upon findings 
or recommendations, the findings (and recommendations, if any) 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 215-AUG. 7, 1953 
473 
unanimously agreed upon by one-half of the number of commis-
sioners voting may be considered by the President as the findings 
and recommendations of the Commission: Provided^ That if the 
commissioners voting are divided into two equal groups each of 
which is unanimously agreed upon findings (and recommenda-
tions, if any) the findings (and recommendations, if any) of 
either group may be considered by the President as the findings 
(and recommendations, if any) of the Commission. In any case 
of a divided vote referred to in this paragraph the Commission 
shall transmit to the President the findings (and recommenda-
tions, if any) of each group within the Commission with respect 
to the matter in question. 
" (2) Whenever, in any case in which the Commission is author-
ized to make an investigation upon its own motion, upon com-
plaint, or upon application of any interested party, one-half of 
the number of commissioners voting agree that the investigation 
should be made, such investigation shall thereupon be carried 
out in accordance with the statutory authority covering the matter 
in question. 
Whenever the Commission is authorized to hold 
hearings in the course of any investigation and one-half of the 
number of commissioners voting agree that hearings should be 
held, such hearings shall thereupon be held in accordance with 
the statutory authority covering the matter in question." 
TITLE III—ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION 
ON FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY 
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION. 
There is hereby established a bipartisan commission to be known as 
the Commission on Foreign Economic Policy (in this title referred to 
as the "Commission"). 
SEC. 302. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of seventeen members as follows: 
(1) Seven appointed by the President of the United States; 
(2) Five appointed from the Senate by the Vice President of 
the United States; and 
(3) Five appointed from the House of Representatives by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(b) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Of the first class of members specified 
in subsection (a), no more than four members shall be from the same 
political party. 
Of the second and third classes of members specified 
in subsection (a), no more than three members from each class shall 
be from the same political party. 
SEC. 303. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
The President shall designate the member of the Commission who 
shall be the Chairman, and the member who shall be the Vice Chairman. 
SEC. 304. QUORUM. 
Nine members of the Commission (including at least five who are 
Members of Congress) shall constitute a quorum. 
SEC. 305. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—Members of Congress who are mem-
bers of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition 
to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but they 
shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses 
incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the 
Commission. 
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PUBLIC LAW 215-AUG. 7, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
(b) MEMBERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.—The members of the 
Commission who are in the executive branch of the Government shall 
each receive the compensation which he would receive if he were not 
a member of the Commission, but they shall be reimbursed for travel, 
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the per-
formance of the duties vested in the Commission. 
(c) MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE LIFE.—The members from private life 
shall receive not to exceed $75 per diem when engaged in the perform-
ance of duties vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, 
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the 
performance of such duties. 
SEC. 306. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF PERSONNEL.—The Commission may appoint 
such personnel as it deems advisable, without regard to the civil-
service laws, and shall fix the compensation of such personnel in 
5uicfio7i'*note. ^ccordauce with the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. The 
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services in 
accordance with section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C , 
60 Stat. 810. 
c,ec. 55a), but at rates not to exceed $75 per diem for individuals. The 
Commission may reimburse employees, experts, and consultants for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of their official duties and make reasonable advances 
to such persons for such purposes. 
(b) CERTAIN LAWS NOT To APPLY.—Except for members of the Com-
mission appointed by the Vice President or the Speaker of the House, 
and except for any member of the Commission who may be appointed 
by the President from the executive branch of the Government, service 
of an individual as a member of the Commission, employment of an 
individual pursuant to the first sentence of subsection (a), and service 
by a person pursuant to the second sentence of subsection (a), shall not 
be considered as service or employment bringing such person within 
the provisions of section 281, 283, or 284, or 1914 of title 18 of the 
70V A^stl %%y' United States Code, or section 412 of the Mutual Defense Assistance 
' 
at. 721. ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ amended (22 U. S. C , sec. 1584), or section 190 of the 
Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C , sec. 99). 
SEC. 307. EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION. 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, so much as may be necessary 
to carry out the provisions of this title. 
SEC. 308. REPORT—EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) REPORT.—Within sixty days after the second regular session of 
the Eighty-third Congress is convened, the Commission shall make a 
report of its findings and recommendations to the President and to 
the Congress. 
(b) EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION.—Ninety days after the sub-
mission to the Congress of the report provided for m subsection (a) 
of this section, the Commission shall cease to exist. 
SEC. 309. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) I N GENERAL.—The Commission is directed to examine, study, 
and report on the subjects of international trade and its enlargement 
consistent with a sound domestic economy, our foreign economic 
policy, and the trade aspects of our national security and total foreign 
policy; and to recommend appropriate policies, measures, and 
practices. 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 215-AUG. 7, 1953 
475 
(b) CERTAIN OF THE MATTERS TO B E CONSIDERED AND REPORTED 
ON.—Without limiting the general scope of the direction to the Com-
mission contained in subsection (a), the Commission shall consider, 
and shall report on, the following matters: 
(1) (A) Applicable provisions of the Constitution of the United 
States; 
(B) Laws, regulations, and practices of the United States 
relating to international trade, including such matters as tariffs, 
customs, customs administration, trade agreements, peril point 
and escape procedures, opinions and decisions thereon of the 
United States Tariff Commission and the President, import and 
export quotas, monetary licenses, countervailing duties, and pro-
curement preferences; 
(C) Departments, agencies, boards, commissions, bureaus, and 
other instrumentalities of the United States having jurisdiction 
over, or dealing with, these matters; 
(D) Laws, regulations, and practices and official instrumen-
talities of other nations concerned with similar subject matters; 
(E) Pertinent statistics on international trade; and 
(F) Balance of payments, nation by nation; and the causes and 
effects of, and proposed remedies for, excessive imbalances. 
(2) Relationship of our foreign economic policies to, and their 
influences on, our total foreign policy; and the proper relation-
ship of each to the other. 
(3) Effect of our foreign aid and military defense programs on 
international trade and international balance of payments. 
(4) Foreign markets of trading nations—extent and nature; 
and the effect thereon of wars, other emergencies, technological 
advances, international relations, and other pertinent factors. 
(5) International instrumentalities, organizations, and agree-
ments and practices affecting trade, such as the General Agree-
ment on Tariffs and Trade, Customs Unions, Organization for 
European Economic Cooperation, International Wheat Agree-
ment, cartels, European Payments Union, European Coal and 
Steel Community, and International Monetary Fund. 
(6) Foreign investment capital and the flow of investment 
capital between nations—need thereof—restrictions thereon—in-
ducements necessary to encourage—role of the Export-Import 
Bank and of the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
Development. 
(7) Effects on international trade of factors such as costs of pro-
duction and pricing, labor practices and standards, general living 
standards, currency manipulation, inconvertible currencies, official 
inflationary policies, currency devaluations, exchange controls and 
licenses, quotas, embargoes, dumping and pricing practices, mul-
tiple currencies, bilateral trade agreements, barter arrangements, 
customs procedures, marking and transit problems, concealed 
regulation of exports and imports, preferential tariff systems, 
most-favored nation treatment, government monopolies, state-
controlled economies, state trading, and state-subsidized trading. 
(8) Effect of existing and proposed trade policies on the pro-
motion of peace and security and the betterment of political, social, 
and economic life, domestic and foreign. 
SEC. 310. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission or, on the authoriza-
tion of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, shall 
have power to hold hearings and to sit and act at such times and 
places, within the United States or elsewhere, to take such testimony. 
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PUBLIC LAW 216-AUG. 7, 1953 
[67 ST A T . 
and to make sucli lawful expenditures, as the Commission or such 
subcommittee or member may deem advisable. 
(b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission is authorized to 
request from any department, agency, or independent instrumentality 
of the Government any information it deems necessary to carry out 
its functions under this title.; and each such department, agency, and 
instrumentality is authorized to furnish such information to the Com-
mission, upon request made by the Chairman or by the Vice Chairman 
when acting as Chairman. 
Approved August 7, 1953. 
August 7,1953 
[S.2249] 
Public Law 216 
CHAPTER 349 
AN ACT 
To enable the President, during the period endihg March 15, 1954, to furnish to 
peoples friendly to the United States emergency assistance in meeting famine 
or other urgent relief requirements. 
Famine relief. 
Appropriation. 
T e r m i n at i on 
date. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in order to 
enable the President to furnish emergency assistance on behalf of the 
people of the United States to friendly peoples in meeting famine or 
other urgent relief requirements, the Commodity Credit Corporation 
is authorized and directed to make available to the President out of 
its stocks such agricultural commodities f. o. b. vessels in United States 
ports as he may request for transfer (1) to any nation friendly to the 
United States in order to meet famine or other urgent relief require-
ments of such nation and (2) to friendly but needy populations without 
regard to the friendliness of their government providing that such 
commodities will be so distributed as to relieve actual distress among 
such populations. 
Not more than $100,000,000 (including the Corpo-
ration's investment in the commodities) shall be expended for all 
transfers, including delivery on board vessels, under this section. 
The 
President may make such transfer through such agencies, in such 
manner, and upon such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate. 
SEC. 2. For the purpose of making payment to the Commodity Credit 
Corporation for commodities disposed of hereunder, there are hereby 
authorized to be appropriated to the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such 
sums as are equal to the Corporation's investment in such commodities, 
including handling costs, plus the cost incurred in making deliveries 
hereunder. 
SEC. 3. No programs of assistance shall be undertaken under the 
authority of this Act after March 15,1954. 
Approved August 7, 1953. 
August 7, 1953 
[H. R. 5740] 
Public Law 217 
CHAPTER 350 
AN ACT 
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, so as to protect the public 
health and welfare by providing certain authority for factory inspection, and 
for other purposes. 
Federal 
F o o d , 
D r u g , a n d C o s -
metic Act, amend-
ments. 
52 Stat. 105 7. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repr'csentatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 704 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (21 U. S. C, 
sec. 374) is amended to read as follows: