The United States International Trade
Commission (Commission), at the request of the Senate Committee on
Finance (SFC), is undertaking two studies that will examine the
effect of intellectual property infringement and indigenous
innovation policies on the U.S. economy. The second report, titled
China: Effects of Intellectual Property Infringement and
Indigenous Innovation Policies on the U.S. Economy, will describe
the size and scope of reported IPR infringement in China, provide a
quantitative analysis of the effect of this reported infringement
on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs, and describe, to the extent
feasible, the effect of Chinas indigenous innovation policies on
the U.S. economy and jobs. The request also asks the Commission to
analyze how IPR infringement in China may impact individual sectors
of the U.S. economy, and potential sales, profits, royalties and
license fees of U.S. firms globally. To undertake these endeavors,
the Commission will collect and analyze vital information relevant
to fulfilling its statutory duty by sending out a questionnaire to
a variety of firms in the U.S., as requested by SFC. Respondents
will be selected from a sample of firms in the manufacturing and
services sectors that have been identified as intellectual property
intensive, stratified by sector and revenue, as described in the
supporting statement.
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 (SFC). The subject investigation was
requested by the SFC with a deadline that requires prompt issuance
of questionnaires. The collection of these data is integral to the
successful fulfillment of the request of the SFC. After the
completed questionnaires are received by the Commission, it will
need time to compile, analyze, and describe 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 notice providing selected firms information about the
questionnaire is tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or before
September 23, 2010. The questionnaires are tentatively scheduled to
be mailed on or before September 28, 2010, in order to give
respondents sufficient time to fill out the questionnaires, which
are due back to the Commission by October 26, 2010. The SFC has
asked the Commission to transmit its report by May 2, 2011.
US Code:
19
USC 1332 Name of Law: Investigative Authority
US Code: 19
USC 1333 Name of Law: Testimony and the production of
papers
The burden increased because of
a request from the Senate Committee on Finance for a report on the
effects of Chinese intellectual property infringement and Chinese
indigenous innovation policies on the U.S. economy. Such data are
not publicly available. This is a one-time collection of 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 SFC under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). Without the questionnaire, the Commission
will be unable to furnish the information requested by the SFC 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.