[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55581-55582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25947]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 332-508]


Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Overview of Participation in 
U.S. Exports

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on October 6, 2009, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-508, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Overview 
of Participation in U.S. Exports, for the purpose of preparing the 
first of a series of three reports requested by the USTR relating to 
small and medium-sized enterprises.

DATES: January 12, 2010: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leaders Laura Bloodgood (202-
708-4726 or [email protected]) or Alexander Hammer (202-205-
3271 or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of 
the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [email protected]). The 
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations 
(202-205-1819 or [email protected]). Hearing-impaired 
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.
    Background: In his letter the USTR requested, under the authority 
of section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, that the Commission 
provide three reports during the next 12 months relating to small- and 
medium-sized enterprises. In this notice the Commission is instituting 
the first of three investigations under section 332(g) for the purpose 
of preparing the first report, which is to be transmitted to the USTR 
by January 12, 2010. The Commission will institute separate 
investigations under section 332(g) at later dates for the purpose of 
preparing the second and third reports.
    In the first report the Commission will, as requested, provide an 
overview of the current state of SMEs' participation in U.S. exports. 
The report will describe, to the extent possible, characteristics of 
SMEs, their exports, and their role in generating employment and 
economic activity in the U.S. economy. The report will focus on 
merchandise and services exports by U.S. SMEs, providing information on 
the value of SME exports, products and sectors involved, large markets 
for U.S. SMEs' exports, and how SME exports have changed over time with 
respect to these factors. The Commission will also seek to identify 
gaps in currently available data that may inhibit a more comprehensive 
understanding of SME participation in export trade.

[[Page 55582]]

    In the second report the Commission will compare the exporting 
activity of SMEs in the United States and the European Union, identify 
barriers to exporting noted by U.S. SMEs and strategies used by SMEs to 
overcome special constraints and reduce trade costs, and identify the 
benefits to SMEs from increased export opportunities including those 
arising from free trade agreements and other trading arrangements. The 
USTR requested that the Commission transmit this report by July 6, 
2010.
    In the third report the Commission will, among other things, 
examine U.S. SMEs engaged in providing services, including the 
characteristics of firms that produce tradable services, growth in 
services exports, and the differences between SME and large services 
exporters. It will also examine U.S. goods and services exports by SMEs 
and identify trade barriers that may disproportionately affect SME 
export performance, as well as possible linkages between exporting and 
SME performance. In addition, the report will identify how data gaps 
might be overcome to enhance our understanding of SMEs in service 
sector exports. The USTR requested that the Commission transmit this 
report by October 6, 2010.
    Public Hearing: The Commission does not plan to hold a public 
hearing in connection with this investigation, but expects to hold one 
or more hearings in the course of preparing the second and/or third 
reports. The time and place of those hearings will be announced at a 
later date.
    Written Submissions: Interested parties are invited to file written 
submissions concerning this investigation. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, and should be received not later 
than 5:15 p.m. on November 17, 2009. All written submissions must 
conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules 
of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 201.8 requires that a 
signed original (or a copy so designated) and fourteen (14) copies of 
each document be filed. In the event that confidential treatment of a 
document is requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be 
filed, in which the confidential information must be deleted (see the 
following paragraph for further information regarding confidential 
business information). The Commission's rules authorize filing 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means only to 
the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the rules (see Handbook for 
Electronic Filing Procedures, http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/rules/documents/handbook_on_electronic_filing.pdf). Persons 
with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the Secretary 
(202-205-2000).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the 
rules requires that the cover of the document and the individual pages 
be clearly marked as to whether they are the ``confidential'' or ``non-
confidential'' version, and that the confidential business information 
be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, 
except for confidential business information, will be made available 
for inspection by interested parties.
    In his request letter, the USTR stated that his office intends to 
make the Commission's reports available to the public in their 
entirety, and asked that the Commission not include any confidential 
business information or national security classified information in the 
reports that the Commission transmits to his office. Any confidential 
business information received by the Commission in this investigation 
and used in preparing this report will not be published in a manner 
that would reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.

    Issued: October 23, 2009.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-25947 Filed 10-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P