[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60866-60867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16613]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Domestic and International Client Export Services and 
Customized Forms Renewal

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before September 27, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Katelynn Byers, PRA Process Administrator by email, 
trade.gov">Katelynn.Byers@trade.gov or trade.gov">PRA@trade.gov. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 0625-0143 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit 
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Katelynn Byers, PRA Process Administrator by phone, 202-989-5979, 
and by email, trade.gov">Katelynn.Byers@trade.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration's (ITA) Global Markets/U.S. 
Commercial Service (CS) is mandated by Congress to broaden and deepen 
the U.S. exporter base. The CS accomplishes this by providing 
counseling, programs, and services to help U.S. organizations export 
and conduct business in overseas markets. This information collection 
package enables the CS to provide appropriate export services to U.S. 
exporters, foreign investors, and international buyers. The CS offers a 
variety of services to enable clients to begin exporting or to expand 
existing exporting efforts, as well as to attract foreign direct 
investment. Clients may learn about our services from business related 
entities such as the National Association of Manufacturers, Federal 
Express, State Economic Development offices, the internet, or word of 
mouth. The CS provides a standard set of services to assist clients 
with identifying potential overseas partners, establishing meeting 
programs with appropriate overseas business contacts, and providing due 
diligence reports on potential overseas business partners. The CS also 
provides other export-related services considered to be of a 
``customized nature'' because they do not fit into the standard set of 
the CS' export services but are driven by unique business needs of 
individual clients. The dissemination of international market 
information and potential business opportunities for U.S. exporters are 
critical components of the Commercial Service's export assistance 
programs and services. U.S. companies conveniently access and indicate 
their interest in these services by completing the appropriate forms 
via ITA and the CS U.S. Export Assistance Center websites. The CS works 
closely with clients to educate them about the exporting/importing 
process and to help prepare them for exporting. When a client is ready 
to begin the exporting process our field staff provide counseling to 
assist in the development of an exporting strategy. We provide fee-
based, export-related services designed to help clients export. The 
type of export-related service that is proposed to a client depends 
upon a client's business goals and where they are in the export 
process. Some clients are at the beginning of the export process and 
require assistance with identifying potential distributors, whereas 
other clients may be ready to sign a contract with a potential 
distributor and require due diligence assistance. Before the CS can 
provide export-related services to clients, such as assistance with 
identifying potential partners or providing due diligence, specific 
information is required to determine the

[[Page 60867]]

client's business objectives and needs. For example, before we can 
provide a service to identify potential business partners, we need to 
know whether the client would like a potential partner to have specific 
technical qualifications, coverage in a specific market, English or 
foreign language ability or warehousing requirements. This information 
collection is designed to elicit such data so that appropriate services 
can be proposed and conducted to most effectively meet the client's 
exporting goals. Without these forms the CS is unable to provide 
services when requested by clients. The forms ask U.S. exporters 
standard questions about their company details, demographic 
information, export experience, information about the products or 
services they wish to export and exporting goals. In addition, the CS 
is seeking approval to collect demographic information to help meet the 
Executive Order (E.O.) On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. In order to 
better assist underserved communities as defined by the E.O., the CS 
plans to ask questions related to equity and underserved communities. 
CS staff will use this information to gain a better understanding of 
clients' needs and objectives so that they can provide appropriate and 
effective export assistance tailored to an exporter's requirements.

II. Method of Collection

    Clients will be asked to provide their information on our website 
(trade.gov), web-based survey or form links, or paper-based forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0143.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, revision of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; and 
Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33,333 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,006,323.27.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: US Code: 15 U.S.C. 4724.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-16613 Filed 7-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P