[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25294-25295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09115]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-588]


Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs): Effects of FTZ Policies and Practices 
on U.S. Firms Operating in U.S. FTZs and Under Similar Programs in 
Canada and Mexico; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 
Foreign Trade Zones Questionnaire

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments regarding a proposed data 
collection in Commission Investigation No. 332-588.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or 
USITC) hereby gives notice that it plans to submit a request for 
approval of a questionnaire to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and requests public comment on its draft proposed 
collection.

DATES: To assure that the Commission will consider your comments, it 
must receive them no later than 60 days after publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices are in the U.S. International Trade 
Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. Due to the COVID-
19 pandemic, the Commission's building is currently closed to the 
public. Once the building reopens, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The project leaders for this 
investigation are Ann Marie Carton, Fernando Gracia, and Lin Jones. 
Please direct all written comments Ann Marie Carton at 202-205-2781 or 
via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adebf9f783c4c3dbc8ded9c4caccd9c4c2c3edd8dec4d9ce83cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e8aebcb2c681869e8d9b9c818f899c818786a89d9b819c8bc68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>.
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. 
General information concerning the Commission may be obtained by 
accessing its internet address (https://www.usitc.gov). Hearing-
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be 
obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on 202-205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information requested by the 
questionnaire is for use by the Commission in connection with 
Investigation No. 332-588, Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs): Effects of FTZ 
Policies and Practices on U.S. Firms Operating in U.S. FTZs and Under 
Similar Programs in Canada and Mexico, instituted under the authority 
of section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). This 
investigation and report were requested by the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on December 14, 2021. This investigation was 
initiated on January 26, 2022, and the notice of investigation was 
published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2022 (87 FR 4914). The 
Commission will deliver its report to USTR by April 14, 2023. As stated 
in the notice of investigation, the USTR requested that the 
Commission's report include

[[Page 25295]]

detailed data and other information on firms operating in FTZs in the 
United States, and under similar programs in Canada, and Mexico. Such 
information is not available in the requested specificity from 
governmental and other public sources. The Commission indicated in its 
notice of investigation that it will need to obtain much of such data 
and information through a survey. The survey will assist the Commission 
in developing, as requested, an overview of economic activity and 
policies and practices in U.S. FTZs and under similar programs in 
Canada and Mexico, and the effects of those policies and practices on 
the cost competitiveness of products of firms operating in these 
programs. Similar programs in Canada include the Duties Relief Program, 
Drawback Program, Export Distribution Center Program, and Exporters of 
Processing Services Program. Similar programs in Mexico include 
Industria Manufacturera, Maquiladora y de Servicios de 
Exportaci[oacute]n (IMMEX), Value Added Tax (VAT)/Special Tax on 
Production and Services (IEPS) Certification, Programa de 
Promoci[oacute]n Sectorial (PROSEC), Rule 8 (Regla 8), and Operadores 
Econ[oacute]micos Autorizados (OEA) (previously Nuevo Esquema de 
Empresas Certificadas (NEEC)).
    Summary of Proposal: The Commission intends to submit the following 
draft information collection plan to OMB and invites public comment.
    (1) Number of forms submitted: 1.
    (2) Title of form: Foreign Trade Zones Questionnaire.
    (3) Type of request: New.
    (4) Frequency of use: Industry questionnaire, single data 
gathering, scheduled for 2022.
    (5) Description of respondents: U.S. firms granted authority, and 
exercising this authority, to produce in a U.S. FTZ.
    (6) Estimated number of respondents: 400.
    (7) Estimated total number of hours to complete the questionnaire 
per respondent: 20 hours.
    (8) Information obtained from the questionnaire that qualifies as 
confidential business information will be so treated by the Commission 
and not disclosed in a manner that would reveal the individual 
operations of a business.
    Method of Collection: Respondents will be sent a letter with a link 
and individual code for accessing the online form. Once the online form 
is complete, respondents will be directed to submit the form by 
selecting a submit button.
    Request for Comments: Comments are invited on (1) the draft 
questionnaire; (2) whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(4) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) 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.
    The draft questionnaire and other supplementary documents may be 
downloaded from the USITC website at https://www.usitc.gov/ftzinvestigation.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they will also become a matter of public record. As such 
proprietary or confidential business information should not be 
submitted as part of comments on the draft questionnaire.
    By order of the Commission.


    Issued: April 25, 2022.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2022-09115 Filed 4-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P


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