[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36826-36827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13247]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Domestic and International Client Export Services and
Customized Forms Revision
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before August 22, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to John Seo, Senior Economist,
International Trade Administration, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-7497 or trade.gov">john.seo@trade.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to John Seo, Senior Economist, International Trade Administration, 1401
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-7497 or
trade.gov">john.seo@trade.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The International Trade Administration's (ITA) Global Markets/U.S.
Commercial Service (CS) is mandated by Congress to broaden and deepen
the U.S. exporter base. The CS accomplishes this by providing
counseling, programs, and services to help U.S. organizations export
and conduct business in overseas markets. This information collection
package enables the CS to provide appropriate export services to U.S.
exporters and international buyers.
The CS offers a variety of services to enable clients to begin
exporting/importing or to expand existing exporting/importing efforts.
Clients may learn about our services from business related entities
such as the National Association of Manufacturers, Federal Express,
State Economic Development offices, the internet, or word of mouth. The
CS provides a standard set of services to assist clients with
identifying potential overseas partners, establishing meeting programs
with appropriate overseas business contacts, and providing due
diligence reports on potential overseas business partners. The CS also
provides other export-related services considered to be of a
``customized nature'' because they do not fit into the standard set of
the CS' export services, but are driven by unique business needs of
individual clients.
The dissemination of international market information and potential
business opportunities for U.S. exporters are critical components of
the Commercial Service's export assistance programs and services. U.S.
companies conveniently access and indicate their interest in these
services by completing the appropriate forms via ITA and the CS U.S.
Export Assistance Center websites.
The CS works closely with clients to educate them about the
exporting/importing process and to help prepare them for exporting/
importing. When a client is ready to begin the exporting/importing
process our field staff provide counseling to assist in the development
of an exporting strategy. We provide fee-based, export-related services
designed to help client export/import. The type of export-related
service that is proposed to a client depends upon a client's business
goals and where they are in the export/import process. Some clients are
at the beginning of the export process and require assistance with
identifying potential distributors, whereas other clients may be ready
to sign a contract with a potential distributor and require due
diligence assistance.
Before the CS can provide export-related services to clients, such
as assistance with identifying potential partners or providing due
diligence, specific information is required to determine the client's
business objectives and needs. For example, before we can provide a
service to identify potential business partners we need to know whether
the client would like a potential partner to have specific technical
qualifications, coverage in a specific market, English or foreign
language ability or warehousing requirements. This information
collection is designed to elicit such data so that appropriate services
can be proposed and conducted to most effectively meet the client's
exporting goals. Without these forms the CS is unable to provide
services when requested by clients.
The forms ask U.S. exporters standard questions about their company
details, demographic information, export experience, information about
the products or services they wish to export, and exporting goals. In
addition, the CS is seeking approval to collect demographic information
to help meet the Executive Order (E.O.) On Advancing Racial Equity and
Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. In
order to better assist underserved communities as defined by the E.O.,
the CS plans to ask questions related to equity and underserved
communities. CS staff will use this information to gain a better
understanding of client's needs and objectives so that they can provide
appropriate and effective export
[[Page 36827]]
assistance tailored to an exporter's requirements.
II. Method of Collection
Clients will be asked to provide their information on our website
(trade.gov), web-based survey or form links, or paper-based forms.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0625-0143.
Form Number(s): ITA-4096P.
Type of Review: Regular submission [revision of a current
information collection].
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; and
Federal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 200,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33,333 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-13247 Filed 6-17-22; 8:45 am]
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