2010-22163. Agency Information Collection Activities: Free Trade Agreements

AGENCY:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

60-Day Notice and request for comments; Extension of an existing collection of information: 1651-0117.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning: Free Trade Agreements. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before November 8, 2010, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Attn: Tracey Denning, Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, 799 9th Street, NW., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information should be directed to Tracey Denning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, 799 9th Street, NW., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)). The comments should address: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden including the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology; and (e) the annual costs burden to respondents or record keepers from the collection of information (a total capital/startup costs and operations and maintenance costs). The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included in the CBP request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this document CBP is soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

Title: Free Trade Agreements.

OMB Number: 1651-0117.

Form Number: None.

Abstract: Free trade agreements are established to reduce and eliminate barriers, strengthen and develop economic relations, and to lay the foundation for further cooperation to expand and enhance benefits of the agreement. Free trade agreements establish free trade by reduced-duty treatment on imported goods. The United States has numerous free trade agreements with various countries, eight of which are included in this information collection: Chile, Singapore, Australia, Morocco, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and Peru. These agreements involve collection of data elements such as information about the importer and exporter of the goods, a description of the goods, tariff classification number, and the preference criterion in the Rules of Origin.

Respondents can obtain information on how to make claims under these free trade agreements by going to http://www.cbp.gov/​xp/​cgov/​trade/​trade_​programs/​international_​agreements/​free_​trade/​.

Current Actions: This submission is being made to extend the expiration date with a change to the burden hours based on the addition of free trade agreements with Oman and Peru.

Type of Review: Extension (with change).

Affected Public: Businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 116,100.

Total Number of Estimated Annual Responses: 116,100.

Estimated time per Response: 12 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 23,220.

Dated: August 31, 2010.

Tracey Denning,

Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.