This collection
is approved with the following terms of clearance: ITC will report
back to OMB on their achieved response rate and the results of
their nonresponse bias analyses as well as any further analysis
they do comparing the Orbis frame to Census Bureau data.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2010
6 Months From Approved
9,000
0
0
18,000
0
0
1,319,760
0
0
The United States International Trade
Commission (Commission), at the request of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR), is undertaking three studies that will
examine U.S. exports by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The third report is entitled U.S. Exports from Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises: Characteristics and Performance. It will
describe the characteristics of SMEs that export services, the
growth in exports of services, and differences between large firms
and SMEs that export services; identify gaps in the data and ways
in which the gaps might be overcome; identify barriers to
increasing exports of both goods and services, particularly those
barriers that disproportionately affect SMEs; describe possible
linkages between exports and the performance of SMEs; and describe
the global operations of SMEs, including an assessment of SMEs'
operations as multinational firms or affiliate firms and SMEs'
indirect contribution to exports by supplying inputs that large
firms use to produce exports. The questionnaire will collect vital
information relevant to fulfilling the Commissions statutory duty
to collect information related to all of the above mentioned
topics. Respondents will be selected from a random sample of firms
in the manufacturing and services sectors, stratified into six
categories, as described in the supporting statement.
Emergency Justification:
Under section 332 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332), the
Commission conducts investigations on trade and tariff matters at
the request of the President, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and
Means, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. The subject
investigation was requested by the United States Trade
Representative, on behalf of the President with a deadline that
necessitates prompt issuance of questionnaires. The collection of
these data is integral to the successful fulfillment of the request
of the United States Trade Representative. After the completed
questionnaires are received by the Commission, it will need time to
compile and analyze the responses. The aggregated responses will be
used in preparation of the public report. The Commission cannot
reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures under 5 CFR
1320.10(b) for this investigation. The questionnaires are
tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or before February 19, 2010,
in order to give respondents sufficient time to fill out the
questionnaires, which are due back to the Commission by March 12,
2010. The USTR has asked the Commission to transmit its report by
October 6, 2010.
US Code:
19
USC 1332 Name of Law: Investigative authority
US Code: 19
USC 1333 Name of Law: Testimony and Production of Papers
The Commission currently
imposes no reporting burden on SMEs. The burden increased because
of a request from the USTR for a report on exports by small and
medium sized enterprises. Such data are not publicly available.
This is a one-time collection for such data. The request letter is
attached as a supplemental document. The questionnaire will collect
vital information relevant to fulfilling the Commissions statutory
duty to collect information related to a request made by the USTR
under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g))
pursuant to authority delegated to him by the President. Without
the questionnaire, the Commission will be unable to furnish the
information requested by the USTR and will be unable to
satisfactorily discharge its responsibility under section 332(g) of
the Tariff Act of 1930.
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.