This collection is approved with the following terms of clearance: ITC will report back to OMB on their achieved response rate and the results of their nonresponse bias analyses as well as any further analysis they do comparing the Orbis frame to Census Bureau data.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2010
6 Months From Approved
9,000
0
0
18,000
0
0
1,319,760
0
0
The United States International Trade Commission (Commission), at the request of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), is undertaking three studies that will examine U.S. exports by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The third report is entitled ÂU.S. Exports from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Characteristics and Performance. It will describe the characteristics of SMEs that export services, the growth in exports of services, and differences between large firms and SMEs that export services; identify gaps in the data and ways in which the gaps might be overcome; identify barriers to increasing exports of both goods and services, particularly those barriers that disproportionately affect SMEs; describe possible linkages between exports and the performance of SMEs; and describe the global operations of SMEs, including an assessment of SMEs' operations as multinational firms or affiliate firms and SMEs' indirect contribution to exports by supplying inputs that large firms use to produce exports. The questionnaire will collect vital information relevant to fulfilling the CommissionÂs statutory duty to collect information related to all of the above mentioned topics. Respondents will be selected from a random sample of firms in the manufacturing and services sectors, stratified into six categories, as described in the supporting statement.
Emergency Justification: Under section 332 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332), the Commission conducts investigations on trade and tariff matters at the request of the President, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. The subject investigation was requested by the United States Trade Representative, on behalf of the President with a deadline that necessitates prompt issuance of questionnaires. The collection of these data is integral to the successful fulfillment of the request of the United States Trade Representative. After the completed questionnaires are received by the Commission, it will need time to compile and analyze the responses. The aggregated responses will be used in preparation of the public report. The Commission cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures under 5 CFR 1320.10(b) for this investigation. The questionnaires are tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or before February 19, 2010, in order to give respondents sufficient time to fill out the questionnaires, which are due back to the Commission by March 12, 2010. The USTR has asked the Commission to transmit its report by October 6, 2010.
US Code:
19 USC 1332
Name of Law: Investigative authority
US Code:
19 USC 1333
Name of Law: Testimony and Production of Papers
The Commission currently imposes no reporting burden on SMEs. The burden increased because of a request from the USTR for a report on exports by small and medium sized enterprises. Such data are not publicly available. This is a one-time collection for such data. The request letter is attached as a supplemental document.
The questionnaire will collect vital information relevant to fulfilling the CommissionÂs statutory duty to collect information related to a request made by the USTR under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) pursuant to authority delegated to him by the President. Without the questionnaire, the Commission will be unable to furnish the information requested by the USTR and will be unable to satisfactorily discharge its responsibility under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 332-510-1 Business Firm Questionnaire
FR notice.doc
USTR_Request Letter.pdf
Business Firm Questionnaire