[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 204 (Friday, October 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54806-54816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25442]


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EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE U.S.

[Public Notice 126]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Final Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the U.S.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review and comments request.

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    Form Title: Competitiveness Report Survey EIB 00-02 OMB 3048-003.

SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), as a 
part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to 
comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Our customers will be able to submit 
this form on paper or electronically.
    The purpose of this survey is to fulfill the statutory mandate 
(Export-Import Act of 1945, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 635) which directs 
the Export-Import Bank to report annually to Congress any action taken 
toward providing export credit programs that are competitive with those 
offered by official foreign export credit agencies.
    The following changes have been made to the survey:
    1. Added question--Years in Business in Part 1, Question 1.
    2. Removed ``Medium-term Loan'' as an option in Part 1, Question 4.
    3. Added question--How many applications did your organization file 
with Ex-Im Bank in CY 2009 in Part 1, Question 2.
    4. Changed the option ``Never'' to ``N/A'' in Part 2, Questions 1 
and 2.
    5. Removed the option ``N/A'' in ``Other'' in Part 2, Questions 1 
and 2.
    6. Added ``Services'' category to Part 3, Question 3.
    7. Added ``Local Costs'' to Part 3, Question 5.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before December 22, 2009 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through http://www.Regulations.Gov 
or mailed to Monika Edwards, Export-Import Bank of the United States, 
811 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Titles and Form Number: EIB 00-02 Competitiveness Report Survey.
    OMB Number: 3048-003.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Need and Use: This information will be used to report annually to 
Congress any action taken toward providing export credit programs that 
are competitive with those offered by official foreign export credit 
agencies.
    Affected Public: This form affects entities involved in the export 
of U.S. goods and services.
    Annual Number of Respondents: 125.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 0.05 hours.
    Government Annual Burden Hours: 6.25.
    Frequency of Reporting or Use: Yearly.
BILLING CODE 6690-01-P

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BILLING CODE 6690-01-C

PART 1--ATTACHMENT

    Dropdown answers:
    (1) Compared to 2002, my 2003 volume of exports/trade finance was:
[cir] Higher
[cir] Same
[cir] Lower
    (2) 2003 total sales volume:
[cir] <$10 million
[cir] $10-$50 million
[cir] $51-100 million
[cir] $101-$500 million
[cir] $501 million-$1 billion
[cir] >$1 billion
    (3) 2003 total U.S. export sales volume:
[cir] <$10 million
[cir] $10-$50 million
[cir] $51-100 million
[cir] $101-$500 million
[cir] $501 million-$1 billion
[cir] >$1 billion
    (4) % of total export sales volume that was Ex-Im Bank supported:
[cir] <10%
[cir] 10%-25%
[cir] 26%-50%
[cir] 51%-75%
[cir] >75%
    (5) 2003 total export credit extended with a term over one year:
[cir] <$10 million
[cir] $10-$50 million
[cir] $51-100 million
[cir] $101-$500 million
[cir] $501 million-$1 billion
[cir] >$1 billion
    (6) % of 2003 total export credit extended with a term over one 
year that was Ex-Im Bank supported:
[cir] <10%
[cir] 10%-25%
[cir] 26%-50%
[cir] 51%-75%
[cir] >75%

PART 2--ATTACHMENT

    (1) Dropdown answers:
    Experience with foreign ECAs (receiving support from or facing 
competitors supported by):
[cir] Frequent
[cir] Regular

[[Page 54815]]

    [cir] Rare
    [cir] None
    (2) Pop-up definitions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Part/Section              Term/phrase           Definition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2, Challenge/Need........  Face competition   .....................
                                 from companies
                                 that receive ECA
                                 support.
                                Find a lack of     Private market
                                 useful private     financing is either
                                 market financing   unavailable for the
                                 available.         term or market or is
                                                    so expensive as to
                                                    be prohibitive.
                                Need continuing    For example, in
                                 U.S. government    certain
                                 involvement.       transactions, a long-
                                                    term presence of the
                                                    U.S. government is a
                                                    useful transactional
                                                    security blanket,
                                                    even if not
                                                    financially
                                                    necessary to fund
                                                    the transaction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 3--ATTACHMENT

    (1) Grades definition:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A+............................  Fully competitive  Consistently equal to
                                                    the (or is the sole)
                                                    ECA offering the
                                                    most competitive
                                                    position on this
                                                    element. Levels the
                                                    playing field on
                                                    this element with
                                                    the most competitive
                                                    offer from any of
                                                    the major ECAs.
A.............................  Generally          Consistently offers
                                 competitive.       terms on this
                                                    element equal to the
                                                    average terms of the
                                                    typical major ECA.
                                                    Levels the playing
                                                    field on this
                                                    element with the
                                                    typical offer from
                                                    the major ECAs.
A-/B+.........................  .................  In between A and B.
B.............................  Modestly           Consistently offers
                                 competitive.       terms on this
                                                    element equal to the
                                                    least competitive of
                                                    the major ECAs. Does
                                                    not quite level the
                                                    playing field on
                                                    this element with
                                                    most of the major
                                                    ECAs.
B-/C+.........................  .................  In between B and C.
C.............................  Barely             Consistently offers
                                 competitive.       terms on this
                                                    element that are a
                                                    notch below those
                                                    offered by any of
                                                    the major ECAs. Puts
                                                    exporter at
                                                    financing
                                                    disadvantage on this
                                                    element that may, to
                                                    a certain extent, be
                                                    compensated for in
                                                    other elements or by
                                                    exporter
                                                    concessions.
C-/D+.........................  .................  In between C and D.
D.............................  Uncompetitive....  Consistently offers
                                                    terms on this
                                                    element that are far
                                                    below those offered
                                                    by other major ECAs.
                                                    Puts exporter at
                                                    financing
                                                    disadvantage on this
                                                    element so
                                                    significant that it
                                                    is difficult to
                                                    compensate for and
                                                    may be enough to
                                                    lose a deal.
F.............................  Does not offer     .....................
                                 program or
                                 element.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pop-up definitions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Part/Section            Term/phrase               Definition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3, Core Business   Ex-Im Bank's Cover     Please compare the
 Policies and            Policy.                following elements of Ex-
 Practices                                      Im Bank's willingness to
                                                cover political and
                                                commercial risks in a
                                                particular country
                                                against other ECAs'
                                                cover policies.
                        Scope of country risk  The number and utility of
                                                countries where cover is
                                                available.
                        Depth of non-          The number, variety and
                         sovereign risk.        utility of cover
                                                available for private
                                                buyers.
                        Breadth of             The number and utility of
                         availability.          markets where cover is
                                                not restricted by amount
                                                or term.
                        Interest Rates         Please compare the
                         Provided by Ex-Im      interest rates available
                         Bank.                  under Ex-Im Bank
                                                programs (including
                                                those offered by the
                                                private sector lenders
                                                who benefit from Ex-Im's
                                                guarantee or insurance)
                                                to those available from
                                                other ECAs.
                        Loans (CIRR).........  The official fixed
                                                Commercial Interest
                                                Reference Rate offered
                                                under Ex-Im Bank's
                                                direct loan program.
                        Insurance Cover......  The interest rates
                                                offered by banks using
                                                Ex-Im Bank's medium-term
                                                insurance program.
                        Guarantee Cover......  The interest rates
                                                offered by banks using
                                                Ex-Im Bank's guarantee
                                                program.
                        Ex-Im Bank's Risk      Please compare the
                         Premia on:.            following types of
                                                exposure or risk fee
                                                charged by Ex-Im Bank to
                                                the fees charged by
                                                other ECAs.
                        Sovereign............  The exposure fee charged
                                                by Ex-Im Bank for
                                                transactions to
                                                sovereign buyers or
                                                guaranteed by sovereign
                                                entities.
                        Non-sovereign........  The exposure fee charged
                                                by Ex-Im Bank for
                                                transactions to public
                                                non-sovereign or private
                                                sector buyers.
Part 3, Major Programs  Ex-Im Bank's Large     Please compare the
 and Performance         Aircraft Program.      following elements of Ex-
                                                Im Bank's large aircraft
                                                program to the aircraft
                                                programs of other ECAs.
                        Fixed interest rate    The interest rates
                         level.                 available under Ex-Im
                                                Bank's aircraft program.
                        Percentage of cover..  The percentage of the
                                                transaction value
                                                underwritten by Ex-Im
                                                Bank.

[[Page 54816]]

 
                        Risk capacity........  Ex-Im Bank's ability to
                                                take on a variety of
                                                risks in its aircraft
                                                program.
                        Ex-Im Bank' Project    Please compare the
                         Finance.               following elements of Ex-
                                                Im Bank's project
                                                finance program to those
                                                of other ECAs' programs.
                        Core program features  Availability of coverage
                                                for pre- and post-
                                                completion risks,
                                                interest during
                                                construction, local
                                                costs support.
                        Repayment              Willingness and ability
                         flexibilities.         to use available OECD
                                                repayment flexibilities.
                        Ex-Im Bank's Co-       Please compare the
                         financing.             following elements of Ex-
                                                Im Bank's co-financing
                                                program to those of
                                                other ECAs' co-financing
                                                programs.
                        <greek-i> and utility  Availability and utility
                         of bilateral           of co-financing
                         agreements.            framework agreements
                                                between Ex-Im Bank and
                                                another ECA.
                        Flexibility in one-    Availability and
                         off deals.             willingness to do one-
                                                time co-financing
                                                transactions without a
                                                bilateral framework
                                                agreement.
                        Ex-Im Bank's Foreign   Please compare Ex-Im
                         Currency Guarantees.   Bank's ability to
                                                guarantee loans
                                                denominated in foreign
                                                currencies compared to
                                                that of other ECAs.
                        Availability of hard   Availability of cover for
                         currency cover.        freely convertible and
                                                readily available
                                                currencies of developed
                                                countries, such as the
                                                Japanese yen, the Euro,
                                                and the Swiss franc.
                        Availability of local  Availability of cover for
                         currency cover.        the currencies of the
                                                buyer, typically located
                                                in emerging market
                                                countries, such as the
                                                Mexican peso, South
                                                African rand, and Indian
                                                rupee.
                        Pricing..............  The exposure fee charged
                                                by Ex-Im Bank under its
                                                foreign/local currency
                                                guarantee program.
                        Ex-Im Bank's Support   Please compare the
                         for Services Exports.  following elements of Ex-
                                                Im Bank's support for
                                                services (intangible
                                                exports such as
                                                engineering and design
                                                services) to the support
                                                provided by other ECAs.
                        Availability.........  How easy it is to attain
                                                medium- or long-term Ex-
                                                Im Bank support for
                                                services exports (on a
                                                stand-alone basis, i.e.,
                                                without being bundled
                                                with exports of goods).
                        Repayment terms......  The repayment terms Ex-Im
                                                Bank offers for services
                                                exports.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Competitive Impact Definition

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
+......................  Positive...............  Philosophy, policy or
                                                   program has a
                                                   positive impact on Ex-
                                                   Im Bank's
                                                   competitiveness
                                                   (moves Ex-Im Bank's
                                                   competitiveness grade
                                                   up one notch).
*......................  Neutral................  Philosophy, policy or
                                                   program has a
                                                   positive impact on Ex-
                                                   Im Bank's
                                                   competitiveness (no
                                                   impact on Ex-Im
                                                   Bank's
                                                   competitiveness
                                                   grade).
-......................  Negative...............  Philosophy, policy or
                                                   program has a
                                                   positive impact on Ex-
                                                   Im Bank's
                                                   competitiveness
                                                   (moves Ex-Im Bank's
                                                   competitiveness grade
                                                   down one notch).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3, Economic Philosophy...  Tied Aid.........  The offer of
                                                    concessional credits
                                                    to buyer countries
                                                    in return for the
                                                    purchase of U.S.
                                                    goods.
                                Market windows...  Ex-Im Bank's response
                                                    to the provision of
                                                    export credits on
                                                    ``market terms'' by
                                                    a government ECA or
                                                    government-supported
                                                    financial
                                                    institution.
Part 3, Public Policies.......  Economic Impact..  The requirement to
                                                    assess whether Ex-Im
                                                    Bank financing of a
                                                    particular export
                                                    will cause
                                                    substantial injury
                                                    to U.S. industry or
                                                    result in the
                                                    production of a good
                                                    that is subject to a
                                                    trade measure.
                                Foreign content..  Inclusion of eligible
                                                    content that
                                                    originated outside
                                                    the U.S. and the
                                                    buyer's country in a
                                                    U.S. supply
                                                    contract.
                                Local costs......  Support for export-
                                                    related costs that
                                                    are incurred in the
                                                    buyer's country.
                                PR 17/Shipping...  The requirement that
                                                    exports support by
                                                    Ex-Im Bank's medium-
                                                    and long-term loans
                                                    and long-term
                                                    guarantees be
                                                    shipped on U.S. flag
                                                    vessels.
                                Environment......  Environmental review
                                                    procedures, policies
                                                    and requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Competitiveness Weighting

    Now that you have graded Ex-Im Bank in several areas, please weight 
the overall importance of each of the four broad categories listed 
above to Ex-Im Bank's overall competitiveness. Please ensure that the 
sum of your weights equals 100%.

 
 
 
Core Business Policies and Practices......................      [0-100%]
Major Programs and Performance............................      [0-100%]
Economic Philosophy.......................................      [0-100%]
Public Policies...........................................      [0-100%]
 


Sharon A. Whitt,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-25442 Filed 10-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6690-01-P