H.R. 4490 — PARTNER Act

This section authorizes the President, under terms and conditions to be determined, to extend the privileges and immunities of the International Organizations Immunities Act to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the same manner, extent, and conditions as for a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to treaty or Act of Congress. (As background, the act accords designated organizations privileges similar to those for foreign diplomatic missions, such as immunity from judicial process and tax exemptions for organization property and staff.)

This section authorizes the President, under terms and conditions to be determined, to extend the privileges and immunities of the International Organizations Immunities Act (i.e., tax exemptions, immunity from suit, and other protections similar to diplomatic status for organizations and personnel) to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions as for public international organizations in which the United States participates pursuant to treaty or Act of Congress.

This section authorizes the President, under terms and conditions determined by the President, to extend privileges and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act—such as immunity from judicial process and taxation—to the Pacific Islands Forum in the same manner as to other public international organizations in which the United States participates pursuant to treaty or Act of Congress. (As background, the Pacific Islands Forum is a regional organization promoting cooperation among Pacific island countries and territories, with the United States as a dialogue partner.)

This section authorizes the President, under terms and conditions to be determined by the President, to extend the privileges and immunities of the International Organizations Immunities Act (i.e., exemptions from judicial process, taxation, and certain duties similar to diplomatic immunities) to the Caribbean Community (i.e., CARICOM, a regional organization of 15 Caribbean nations promoting economic integration and cooperation), in the same manner and to the same extent as for public international organizations in which the United States participates pursuant to treaty or Act of Congress.

This section amends Section 12(b) of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288f-2(b)) to expand presidential authority to extend, or enter into an agreement to extend, specified privileges and immunities—(1) to the African Union Mission to the United States (as previously authorized); and (2) to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York and its members, comparable to those enjoyed by permanent missions to the United Nations of member states and their members, subject to corresponding conditions and obligations. (As background, such privileges and immunities generally include tax exemptions and immunity from certain legal processes for international organization personnel, notwithstanding foreign reciprocity requirements.)