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

This presidential determination implements the Trafficking Victims Protection Act by withholding certain U.S. funding from 10 countries for FY 2015 due to inadequate anti-trafficking efforts, while granting full or partial waivers for 17 other countries on national interest grounds. It directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress and publish the determination in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 57699

Impact dates

Date TBD
Secretary of State compliance report to Congress under section 110(b)
Sep 30, 2015
FY 2015 funding restrictions and waivers expire

Key directives

Withhold certain FY 2015 funding from DPRK, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe until compliance
Withhold certain FY 2015 funding from Cuba, Eritrea, Syria until compliance
Grant full waivers for 13 countries on national interest grounds
Grant partial waivers for DRC (excluding army FMS/FMF), Venezuela (democracy programs), Cuba/Syria/Eritrea (educational/cultural exchanges), Equatorial Guinea (natural resource management, young leader programming), Zimbabwe (multiple program categories)
Submit determination to Congress
Publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Funding restrictions take effect for FY 2015
Determination transmitted to Congress and Federal Register publication directed

Near term (90d)

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

Long term

Continued funding restrictions until countries achieve compliance or significant efforts
Ongoing waiver implementation for approved programs

Risks & tensions

DRC appears in both restriction and partial waiver lists, creating complex implementation
Zimbabwe waiver includes exceptionally detailed programmatic conditions suggesting prior disputes
Russia and Venezuela sanctions during period of deteriorating bilateral relations
Partial waivers for Cuba, Syria, Eritrea preserve engagement channels despite formal restrictions
Certification under section 110(e) required but text not included in document