Foreign Censorship Part 2: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign Censorship Questionnaire, 32060 [2021-12579]

Agencies

• INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 32060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12579]



[[Page 32060]]

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-586]


Foreign Censorship Part 2: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. 
Businesses; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign 
Censorship Questionnaire

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection.

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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: The project leaders for this investigation are Ricky Ubee, 
Shova KC, and George Serletis. Please direct all written comments to 
the project leaders via email at [email protected] or by 
phone at 202-205-3493.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ricky Ubee at 202-205-3493. Copies of 
the questionnaire and supporting investigation documents may be 
obtained at https://www.usitc.gov/foreigncensorship. Hearing-impaired 
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its website 
(https://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose of Information Collection: The information requested by the 
questionnaire is for use by the Commission in connection with 
Investigation No. 332-586, Foreign Censorship Part 2: Trade and 
Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses, 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 Committee on Finance 
(Committee) of the U.S. Senate on April 7, 2021 (revised from a request 
received January 4, 2021). This investigation was initiated on May 6, 
2021 and notice was published on May 12, 2021 (86 FR 26064). The 
Committee's request includes a component that requires the use of 
survey data to provide an analysis of the trade and economic effects of 
foreign censorship policies and practices on affected businesses in the 
United States and their global operations. This questionnaire is 
therefore necessary to analyze foreign censorships impacts on (1) 
employment, (2) direct costs to businesses (e.g., compliance and entry 
costs), (3) foregone revenue and sales, (4) self-censorship, and (5) 
other effects the Commission considers relevant to respond to the 
Committee's request. The Commission will deliver its report to the 
Committee by July 5, 2022.
    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 Censorship Questionnaire
    (3) Type of request: New.
    (4) Frequency of use: Industry questionnaire, single data 
gathering, scheduled for 2021.
    (5) Description of respondents: U.S. businesses operating in China.
    (6) Estimated number of respondents: 10,000.
    (7) Estimated total number of hours to complete the questionnaire 
per respondent: 15 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.

I. Abstract

    The Committee on Finance (Committee) of the U.S. Senate has 
requested the Commission to produce a report that analyzes the trade 
and economic effects of foreign censorship policies and practices on 
(1) employment, (2) direct costs to businesses (e.g., compliance and 
entry costs), (3) foregone revenue and sales, (4) self-censorship, and 
(5) other effects the Commission considers relevant for the Committee 
to know. This report is the second in a two-part series on the effects 
of foreign censorship.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents will be mailed 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.

III. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on (1) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) 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/foreigncensorship.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 10, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-12579 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
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