The United States International Trade Commission (Commission), at the request of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), is preparing two reports that analyze the impact of regulatory and policy measures in key foreign markets on (1) the ability of U.S. firms to develop and/or supply digital products and services abroad, and (2) the competitiveness of U.S. firms engaged in the sale of digital products and services, as well as on international trade and investment flows associated with digital products and services. These reports will use survey responses to analyze these impacts. Investigation No. 332-562 will focus on the business-to-business market and is titled: Global Digital Trade 2: The Business-to-Business Market, Key Foreign Trade Restrictions, and U.S. Competitiveness. Investigation No. 332-563 will focus on the business-to-consumer market and is titled: Global Digital Trade 3: The Business-to-Consumer Market, Key Foreign Trade Restrictions, and U.S. Competitiveness. The Commission will deliver the results of its investigation of the business-to-business market to the USTR by October 29, 2018 and its investigation of the business-to-consumer market to the USTR by March 29, 2019.
The Commission currently imposes no reporting burden on firms with respect to foreign regulatory and policy measures that affect the development and/or supply of digital products and services, and the competitiveness of firms engaged in the sales thereof. The burden on firms will increase because of a request from the USTR to provide a report on this topic and because such data are not publicly available. This is a one-time collection for such data.
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.