The United States International Trade Commission (Commission), at the request of the Senate Committee on Finance (SFC), is undertaking two studies that will examine the effect of intellectual property infringement and indigenous innovation policies on the U.S. economy. The second report, titled ÂChina: Effects of Intellectual Property Infringement and Indigenous Innovation Policies on the U.S. Economy, will describe the size and scope of reported IPR infringement in China, provide a quantitative analysis of the effect of this reported infringement on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs, and describe, to the extent feasible, the effect of ChinaÂs indigenous innovation policies on the U.S. economy and jobs. The request also asks the Commission to analyze how IPR infringement in China may impact individual sectors of the U.S. economy, and potential sales, profits, royalties and license fees of U.S. firms globally. To undertake these endeavors, the Commission will collect and analyze vital information relevant to fulfilling its statutory duty by sending out a questionnaire to a variety of firms in the U.S., as requested by SFC. Respondents will be selected from a sample of firms in the manufacturing and services sectors that have been identified as intellectual property intensive, stratified by sector and revenue, as described in the supporting statement.
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 (SFC). The subject investigation was requested by the SFC with a deadline that requires prompt issuance of questionnaires. The collection of these data is integral to the successful fulfillment of the request of the SFC. After the completed questionnaires are received by the Commission, it will need time to compile, analyze, and describe 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 notice providing selected firms information about the questionnaire is tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or before September 23, 2010. The questionnaires are tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or before September 28, 2010, in order to give respondents sufficient time to fill out the questionnaires, which are due back to the Commission by October 26, 2010. The SFC has asked the Commission to transmit its report by May 2, 2011.
US Code:
19 USC 1332
Name of Law: Investigative Authority
US Code:
19 USC 1333
Name of Law: Testimony and the production of papers
The burden increased because of a request from the Senate Committee on Finance for a report on the effects of Chinese intellectual property infringement and Chinese indigenous innovation policies on the U.S. economy. Such data are not publicly available. This is a one-time collection of 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 SFC under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). Without the questionnaire, the Commission will be unable to furnish the information requested by the SFC 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.