[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39869-39870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14272]


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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; Submission of Questionnaire and Information 
Collection Plan for Office of Management and Budget Review

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of submission of request for approval of a questionnaire 
and information collection to the Office of Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: 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.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices are located 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. The 
Commission is currently unable to accept paper correspondence for this 
investigation. Please direct all questions and comments about this 
investigation to Ann Marie Carton at 202-205-2781 or via email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4a2c3e306423243c2f393e232d2b3e2325240a3f39233e29642d253c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2741535d094e49514254534e4046534e48496752544e534409404851">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Comments about the proposal should be provided to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
through the Information Collection Review Dashboard at https://www.reginfo.gov. All comments should be specific, indicating which part 
of the questionnaire is objectionable, describing the concern in 
detail, and including specific suggested revisions or language changes. 
Copies of any comments should be provided electronically to the 
Commission's survey team via an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#137567693d7a7d657660677a7472677a7c7d5366607a67703d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b1d0f015512150d1e080f121c1a0f1214153b0e08120f18551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>.
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the

[[Page 39870]]

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, USTR requested that the 
Commission's report include 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)).
    The Commission intends to submit the following draft information 
collection plan to OMB:
    (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 that have been granted 
production authority in a U.S. FTZ and have exercised that authority 
since January 1, 2016.
    (6) Estimated number of questionnaire requests to be emailed: 400.
    (7) Estimated total number of hours to complete the questionnaire 
per respondent: 25 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.
    Copies of the draft questionnaire and other supplementary documents 
may be downloaded from the USITC website at https://www.usitc.gov/ftzinvestigation.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 28, 2022.
Katherine Hiner,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2022-14272 Filed 7-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P


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