Commerce Seeking Comments on Data Collections for Foreign Ocean Vessels

The Department of Commerce is seeking comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections related to Form BE-29, Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. Comments are due by Aug. 20 to Christopher Emond, Chief, Special Surveys Branch, Balance of Payments Division, (BE-50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; 202-606-9826 or christopher.emond@bea.gov.

The form is used to obtain annual data from U.S. agents that handle 40 or more port calls by foreign ocean vessels and the covered expenses for all foreign ocean vessels handled by the U.S. agent were $250,000 or more. The data collected are cut-off sample data that BEA said are needed to monitor U.S. international trade in transportation services, to analyze its impact on the U.S. economy and foreign economies, to compile and improve the U.S. economic accounts, and to support U.S. commercial policy on transportation services, conduct trade promotion, and improve the ability of U.S. businesses to identify and evaluate market opportunities.