Presidential Determination with Respect to Foreign Governments' Efforts Regarding Trafficking in Persons

This determination withholds certain U.S. funding from Burma, Cuba, Liberia, North Korea, and Sudan for FY2004 due to their failure to meet minimum standards for combating human trafficking, while allowing exceptions for multilateral assistance to Liberia and Sudan peace accord implementation. It also notes determinations regarding Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Suriname, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 53871

Impact dates

Date TBD
FY2004 funding restrictions apply until government compliance
Sep 9, 2003
Determination effective; FY2004 funding restrictions begin

Key directives

Withhold certain funding for Burma, Cuba, Liberia, North Korea, and Sudan for FY2004 until compliance with anti-trafficking standards
Make determinations regarding Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Suriname, Turkey, and Uzbekistan
Authorize multilateral assistance to Liberia as promoting Act purposes or U.S. national interest
Authorize multilateral assistance to Sudan for peace accord implementation programs as promoting Act purposes or U.S. national interest
Provide section 110(e) certification
Submit determination to Congress
Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Funding restrictions take effect for FY2004
Determination submitted to Congress and published in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Secretary of State may issue compliance reports to Congress under section 110(b)

Long term

Countries may regain funding upon compliance with minimum standards or significant efforts to comply

Risks & tensions

Waiver for Sudan peace accord assistance may create tension between anti-trafficking goals and diplomatic priorities
Liberia receives both sanctions and waiver, reflecting competing interests
Determination regarding 10 additional countries (section 110(d)(3)) is vague in operative effect—text does not specify consequences