H.R. 4490: PARTNER Act

Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act or the PARTNER Act

This bill authorizes the President to extend diplomatic immunities and privileges provided by the International Organizations Immunities Act, including immunity from certain lawsuits and exemption from property taxes, to specified international regional and research organizations. 

Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to extend these immunities and privileges to

• the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organization with 10 members including Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam;
• the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional organization with 18 members including Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea;
• the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional organization with 15 members and 6 associate members including Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia; and
• the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international research organization focused on particle physics.

The bill also authorizes the President to extend to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations the privileges and immunities provided to permanent missions to the United Nations of member states.