2010-28214. Agency Information Collection Activities: Free Trade Agreements

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

30-day notice and request for comments; Extension and revision of an existing information collection: 1651-0117.

SUMMARY:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Free Trade Agreements. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on September 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Page 54352), allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before December 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the OMB Desk Officer for Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encourages the general public and affected Federal agencies to submit written comments and suggestions on proposed and/or continuing information collection requests pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L.104-13). Your comments should address one of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency/component, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies/components estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information.

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.

If additional information is required contact: Tracey Denning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC. 20229-1177, at 202-325-0265.

Dated: November 3, 2010.

Tracey Denning,

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