U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 1736e. Debt forgiveness

(a) Authority

The President, taking into account the financial resources of a country, may waive payments of principal and interest that such country would otherwise be required to make to the Commodity Credit Corporation under dollar sales agreements under subchapter II of this chapter if—

(1) that country is a least developed country; and

(2) either—

(A) an International Monetary Fund standby agreement is in effect with respect to that country;

(B) a structural adjustment program of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or of the International Development Association is in effect with respect to that country;

(C) a structural adjustment facility, enhanced structural adjustment facility, or similar supervised arrangement with the International Monetary Fund is in effect with respect to that country; or

(D) even though such an agreement, program, facility, or arrangement is not in effect, the country is pursuing national economic policy reforms that would promote democratic, market-oriented, and long term economic development.

(b) Request for debt relief by President

The President may provide debt relief under subsection (a) of this section only if a notification is submitted to Congress at least 10 days prior to providing the debt relief. Such a notification shall—

(1) specify the amount of official debt the President proposes to liquidate; and

(2) identify the countries for which debt relief is proposed and the basis for their eligibility for such relief.

The aggregate amount of principal and interest waived under this section may not exceed the amount approved for such purpose in an Act appropriating funds to carry out this chapter.

(d) Limitation on new credit assistance

If the authority of this section is used to waive payments otherwise required to be made by a country pursuant to this chapter, the President may not provide any new credit assistance for that country under this chapter during the 2-year period beginning on the date such waiver authority is exercised, unless the President provides to the Congress, before the assistance is provided, a written justification for the provision of such new credit assistance.

(e) Applicability

The authority of this section applies with respect to credit sales agreements entered into before November 28, 1990.

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