84 FR 33222 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-577, Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33222-33223]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14847]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct 
Investment Surveys: BE-577, Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment 
Abroad--Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 10, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jessica Hanson, Chief, Direct 
Transactions and Positions Branch, Direct Investment Division, Bureau 
of Economic Analysis, 4600 Silver Hill Rd., BE-69Q, Washington, DC 
20233, or via email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jessica Hanson, Chief, Direct Transactions and Positions 
Branch, Direct Investment Division (BE-49Q), Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 4600 Silver Hill Rd., 
Washington, DC 20233; via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad--Transactions 
of U.S. Reporter with Foreign Affiliate (Form BE-577) obtains quarterly 
data on transactions and positions between U.S.-owned foreign business 
enterprises and their U.S. parents, except certain private funds. The 
survey is a sample survey that covers all foreign affiliates above a 
size-exemption level. The sample data are used to derive universe 
estimates in nonbenchmark years from similar data reported in the BE-
10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, which is 
conducted every five years. The data are essential for the preparation 
of the U.S. international transactions accounts, the national income 
and product accounts, the input-output accounts, and the international 
investment position of the United States. The data are needed to 
measure the size and economic significance of direct investment abroad, 
measure changes in such investment, and assess its impact on the U.S. 
and foreign economies.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) proposes changes to the 
reporting requirements and content of the survey. BEA proposes to 
increase the reporting threshold for indirectly-owned foreign 
affiliates from $1 million in intercompany debt balances to $10 
million. These foreign affiliates must also have total assets, annual 
sales or gross operating revenues, or annual net income (loss) after 
the provision for foreign income taxes greater than $60 million. We 
estimate that this threshold increase will exempt approximately 1,700 
foreign affiliates from the BE-577 survey. These affiliates account for 
less than 1 percent of intercompany debt and their balances will be 
estimated using data reported on the benchmark survey.
    Additionally, BEA proposes to add a question for each debt category 
(receivables and payables) on the currency composition of intercompany 
debt. BE-577 survey respondents will be asked to provide the amount of 
debt denominated in U.S. dollars, euros, yen, and other currencies. 
These data will allow BEA to produce international investment position 
statistics by currency, as recommended by the G-20 Data Gaps Initiative 
II.
    Both of these changes will take effect with the BE-577 survey that 
is due for the first quarter of 2020 (the fiscal quarter ending closest 
to March 30). BEA expects that the collection of information will be 
approved for fourth quarter of 2019 (the fiscal quarter ending closest 
to December 31), when the current approval expires. The current version 
of the BE-577 survey, without the changes discussed above, will be used 
by respondents to report for the fourth quarter of 2019.

II. Method of Collection

    Notice of specific reporting requirements, including who is to 
report, the information to be reported, the manner of reporting, and 
the time

[[Page 33223]]

and place of filing reports, will be mailed to potential respondents 
each quarter. Reports are due 30 days after the close of each calendar 
or fiscal quarter--45 days if the report is for the final quarter of 
the respondent's financial reporting year. Reports are required from 
each U.S. person that has a direct and/or indirect ownership interest 
of at least 10 percent of the voting stock in an incorporated foreign 
business enterprise, or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated 
foreign business enterprise, and that meets the additional conditions 
detailed in Form BE-577. Certain private funds are exempt from 
reporting. Entities required to report will be contacted individually 
by BEA. Entities not contacted by BEA have no reporting 
responsibilities.
    Potential respondents are those U.S. business enterprises that 
reported owning foreign business enterprises in the 2014 benchmark 
survey of U.S. direct investment abroad, along with entities that 
subsequently entered the direct investment universe. The data collected 
are sample data. Universe estimates are developed from the reported 
sample data.
    As an alternative to filing paper forms, BEA offers an electronic 
filing option, the eFile system, for use in reporting on Form BE-577. 
For more information about eFile, go to www.bea.gov/efile.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0004.
    Form Number: BE-577.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000 U.S. parents filing for 
20,800 foreign affiliates per quarter, 83,200 annually.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour is the average but may vary 
considerably among respondents because of differences in company 
structure and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 83,200.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended by Pub. L. 
98-573 and Pub. L. 101-533).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-14847 Filed 7-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P