[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40690-40691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16265]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct 
Investment Surveys: BE-577, Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment 
Abroad: Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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)).

[[Page 40691]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 6, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Sarahelen Thompson, Acting Chief, Direct Investment 
Division (BE-50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9660; fax: (202) 606-
5318; or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad--Transactions 
of U.S. Reporter with Foreign Affiliate (Form BE-577), obtains 
quarterly data on transactions and positions between U.S.-owned foreign 
business enterprises and their U.S. parents. The survey is a sample 
survey that covers all foreign affiliates above a size-exemption level. 
The sample data are used to derive universe estimates in nonbenchmark 
years from similar data reported in the BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. 
Direct Investment Abroad, which is conducted every five years. The data 
are used in the preparation of the U.S. international transactions 
accounts, the input-output accounts, the national income and product 
accounts, and the international investment position of the United 
States. 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.
    No changes to the survey forms or reporting requirements are 
proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    Survey forms are sent to potential respondents each quarter; 
responses are due within 30 days after the close of each fiscal 
quarter, except for the final quarter of the fiscal year, when reports 
should be filed within 45 days. A report must be filed for every 
foreign business enterprise whose voting stock (or the equivalent) is 
owned 10 percent or more by a U.S. business enterprise and for which 
any one of the following three items was greater than $60 million 
(positive or negative) at the end of, or for, the foreign business 
enterprise's fiscal year: (1) Total assets, (2) annual sales or gross 
operating revenues excluding sales taxes, or (3) net income after 
provision for foreign income taxes.
    As an alternative to filing paper forms, BEA offers an electronic 
filing option, the eFile system, for use in reporting on Form BE-577. 
For more information about eFile, go to www.bea.gov/efile.
    Potential respondents are those U.S. parents that reported owning 
foreign business enterprises in the 2009 benchmark survey of U.S. 
direct investment abroad, along with entities that subsequently entered 
the direct investment universe. The data collected are sample data. 
Universe estimates are developed from the reported sample data.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0004.
    Form Number: BE-577.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,900 U.S. parents filing for 
15,000 foreign affiliates per quarter; 60,000 annually.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour is the average, but may vary 
considerably among respondents because of differences in company 
structure and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 60,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended by P.L. 98-
573 and Pub. L. 101-533).

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 will have 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: July 2, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-16265 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P