[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14189-14190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposal To Collect Information on Annual Survey of U.S. Direct 
Investment Abroad

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230, or via the Internet at [email protected], ((202) 
482-0266).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information or copies of the information collection instruments and 
instructions to Obie G. Whichard, Department of Commerce, Bureau of 
Economic Analysis, BE-50(OC), Washington, DC 20230, or via the Internet 
at [email protected], ((202) 606-9890).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BE-11, Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, provides 
a variety of measures of the overall operations of nonbank U.S. parent 
companies and their nonbank foreign affiliates, including total assets, 
sales, net income, employment and employee compensation, research and 
development expenditures, and exports and imports of goods. The survey 
is a cut-off sample survey that covers all foreign affiliates (and 
their U.S. parent companies) above a size-exemption level. The sample 
data are used to derive universe estimates in nonbenchmark years by 
extrapolating forward similar data reported in the BE-10, Benchmark 
Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, which is taken every five 
years. The data are needed to measure the size and economic 
significance of direct investment abroad, measure changes in such 
investment, and assess its impact on the U.S. and foreign economies.
    The data from the survey are primarily intended as general purpose 
statistics. They should be readily available to answer any number of 
research and policy questions related to U.S. direct investment abroad. 
Policy areas of particular and lasting interest are trade in both goods 
and services, employment and employee compensation, taxes, and 
technology.
    The form remains the same as in the past. No changes in language, 
data collected, or exemption levels are proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be sent each year to potential respondents in March 
and responses are due by May 31. A report must be filed by, or on 
behalf of, each nonbank U.S. business enterprise (U.S. Reporter) that 
owned 10 percent or more of the voting stock (or the equivalent) of a 
nonbank foreign business enterprise owned at least 20 percent by all 
U.S. Reporters of the foreign business enterprise combined, whether 
held directly or indirectly, for which any one of the following three 
items was greater than $30 million (positive or negative) at the end 
of, or for, the foreign business enterprise's fiscal year: (1) Total 
assets, (2) sales or gross operating revenues excluding sales taxes, or 
(3) net income after provision for foreign income taxes.
    Potential respondents are the nonbank U.S. parent companies of 
nonbank foreign business enterprises that reported in the last 
benchmark survey of U.S. direct investment abroad, which covered the 
year 1999, along with the nonbank U.S. parent companies of those 
nonbank foreign business enterprises that subsequently entered the 
direct investment universe. The data collected are cut-off sample data. 
Universe estimates are developed from the reported sample data.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0053.
    Form Number: BE-11.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.

[[Page 14190]]

    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 74 hours is the average, but may vary 
according to the number, size, and complexity of the businesses covered 
by the response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 118,400 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $3,552,000 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 118,400 hours and an estimated hourly cost of $30).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 18, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-6882 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P