Trade Events Application and Participation Agreement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Trade Events Application and Participation Agreement

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Phone

number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: John Klingelhut, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service,

Export Promotion Services, Room 2810, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: (202) 482-4403, and fax number:

(202) 482-0872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Trade Event Application and Participation Agreement form is the

vehicle by which individual firms apply, and if accepted agree, to

participate in the Department of Commerce's (DOC) trade promotion

events program, identify the products or services they intend to sell

or promote, and record their required participation fees. It is being

revised to: (1) Collect additional information about the products/

services that a company wishes to export; (2) modify several questions

based on comments received from DOC trade event managers and

participants; and (3) change the name of the form to ``Trade Event/

Mission Application and Participation Agreement.'' In its use as a

Participation Agreement, it is a contract between an individual firm

and the Department of Commerce. The information is collected for

several purposes, including to: (1) Identify firms which have first

applied, and if accepted have agreed to participate in specific

overseas trade promotion events; (2) establish the participation fees

which the individual firms will make and keep track of their payments;

(3) facilitate the shipment of exhibition goods using private freight

forwarding companies; (4) collect certain participant profile

information such as export experience and company size for evaluative

purposes; (5) collect certifications from companies interested in

participating in certain missions, (6) obtain additional information

needed to judge the eligibility and suitability of companies to

participate in Department of Commerce-sponsored trade events; and (7)

make it clear that participation involves an application process.

II. Method of Collection

Applicants submit Form ITA-4008P.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0147.

Form Number: ITA-4008P and ITA-4008P-A.

Type of Review: Revision-Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Companies applying to participate in Commerce

Department trade promotion events.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 45 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,625 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: Respondents will not be required to

purchase equipment or materials to respond to this survey.

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 shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and costs) 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 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.

Dated: May 16, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-13255 Filed 5-20-97; 8:45 am]

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