USC Chapter 75

in effect

15 U.S.C. § 4901 Definitions

For purposes of this chapter— (1) the term “Committee” means the Interagency Trade Data Advisory Committee; (2) the term “Data Bank” means the National Trade Data Bank; (3) the term “Executive agency” has the same meaning as in section 105 of title 5; (4) the term “export promotion data system” means the data system known as the Commercial Information Management System which is maintained and operated by the United States and Foreign Commercial Service and is established as part of the Data Bank under section 4906 11 See References in Text note below. of this title; (5) the term “international economic data system” means the data system established as part of the Data Bank under section 4906 of this title which contains data useful to policymakers and analysis concerned with international economics; and (6) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

15 U.S.C. § 4902 Interagency Trade Data Advisory Committee

(a) EstablishmentThere is established the Interagency Trade Data Advisory Committee. (b) MembershipThe Committee shall consist of—(1) the United States Trade Representative; (2) the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) the Secretary of Defense; (4) the Secretary of Commerce; (5) the Secretary of Labor; (6) the Secretary of the Treasury; (7) the Secretary of State; (8) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; (9) the Director of Central Intelligence; (10) the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board; (11) the Chairman of the International Trade Commission; (12) the President of the Export-Import Bank; (13) the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation; and (14) such other members as may be appointed by the President from full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government. (c) ChairmanThe Secretary of Commerce shall be Chairman of the Committee. (d) DesigneesAny member of the Committee may appoint a designee to serve in place of such member on the Committee.

15 U.S.C. § 4903 Functions of Committee

The Committee shall advise the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, on the establishment, structure, contents, and operation of a National Trade Data Bank in accordance with section 4906 of this title in order to assure the timely collection of accurate data and to provide the private sector and government officials efficient access to economic and trade data collected by the Federal Government for purposes of policymaking and export promotion.

15 U.S.C. § 4904 Consultation with private sector and government officials

The Secretary shall regularly consult with representatives of the private sector and officials of State and local governments to assess the adequacy of United States trade information. The Secretary shall seek recommendations on how trade information can be made more accessible, understandable, and relevant. The Secretary shall seek recommendations as to what data should be included in the export promotion data system in the Data Bank.

15 U.S.C. § 4905 Cooperation among executive agencies

Each executive agency shall furnish to the Secretary such information for inclusion in the National Trade Data Bank as the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, considers necessary to the operation of the Data Bank.

15 U.S.C. § 4906 Establishment of Data Bank

(a) EstablishmentWithin 2 years after August 23, 1988, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Data Bank. The Secretary shall manage the Data Bank. The Data Bank shall consist of two data systems, to be designated the International Economic Data System, as described in subsection (b) and the Export Promotion Data System, as described in subsection (c). (b) International Economic Data SystemThe International Economic Data System shall include current and historical information determined by the Secretary to be useful (after the consultation required by section 4904 of this title) to policymakers and analysts concerned with international economics and trade and which shall include data compiled or obtained by appropriate executive agencies. Such information shall not identify parties to transactions. Such information may include data for the United States and countries with which the United States has important economic relations including—(1) data on imports and exports, including—(A) aggregate import and export data for the United States and for each foreign country; (B) industry-specific import and export data for each foreign country; (C) product and service specific import and export data for the United States; (D) market penetration information; and (E) foreign destinations for exports of the United States; (2) data on international service transactions; (3) information on international capital markets, including—(A) interest rates; and (B) average exchange rates; (4) information on foreign direct investment in the United States economy; (5) international labor market information, including—(A) wage rates for major industries; (B) international unemployment rates; and (C) trends in international labor productivity; (6) information on foreign government policies affecting trade, including—(A) trade barriers; and (B) export financing policies; (7) import and export data for the United States on a State-by-State basis aggregated at the product level including—(A) data concerning the country shipping the import, the State of first destination, and the original part 11 So in original. Probably should be “port”. of entry for imports of goods and, to the extent possible, services; and (B) data concerning the State of the exporter, the port of departure, and the country of first destination for export of goods and, to the extent possible, services; and (8) any other economic and trade data collected by the Federal Government that the Secretary determines to be useful in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. (c) Export Promotion Data SystemThe export promotion data system shall include data and information collected by the Federal Government on the industrial sectors and markets of foreign countries which are determined by the Secretary (after consultation required by section 4904 of this title) to be of the greatest interest to United States business firms that are engaged in export-related activities and to Federal and State agencies that promote exports, while providing for the confidentiality of proprietary business information, and shall be designed to use the most effective means of disseminating data and information electronically through the Department, or Department-designated offices, or through other available data bases in an accurate and timely manner. Such data system shall monitor, organize, and disseminate selected information on—(1) specific business opportunities in foreign countries; (2) specific industrial sectors within foreign countries with high export potential such as—(A) size of the market; (B) distribution of products; (C) competition; (D) significant applicable laws, regulations, specifications, and standards; (E) appropriate government officials; and (F) trade associations and other contact points; and (3) foreign countries generally, such as—(A) the general economic conditions; (B) common business practices; (C) significant tariff and trade barriers; and (D) other significant laws and regulations regarding imports, licensing, and the protection of intellectual property; (4) export financing information, including the availability, through public sources of funds for United States exporters and foreign competitors; (5) transactions involving barter and countertrade; and (6) any other similar information, that the Secretary determines to be useful in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 4907 Operation of Data Bank

The Secretary shall manage the Data Bank to provide the most appropriate data retrieval system or systems possible. Such system or systems shall— (1) be designed to utilize data processing and retrieval technology in monitoring, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating the data and information contained in the Data Bank; (2) use the most effective and meaningful means of organizing and making such information available to—(A) United States Government policymakers; (B) United States business firms; (C) United States workers; (D) United States industry associations; (E) United States agricultural interests; (F) State and local economic development agencies; and (G) other interested United States persons who could benefit from such information; (3) be of such quality and timeliness and in such form as to assist coordinated trade strategies for the United States; and (4) facilitate dissemination of information through nonprofit organizations with significant outreach programs which complement the regional outreach programs of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service.

15 U.S.C. § 4908 Information on service sector

(a) Service sector informationThe Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent possible, there is included in the Data Bank information on service sector economic activity that is as complete and timely as information on economic activity in the merchandise sector. (b) SurveyThe Secretary shall undertake a new benchmark survey of service transactions, including transactions with respect to—(1) banking services; (2) information services, including computer software services; (3) brokerage services; (4) transportation services; (5) travel services; (6) engineering services; (7) construction services; and (8) health services. (c) General information and index of leading indicatorsThe Secretary shall provide—(1) not less than once a year, comprehensive information on the service sector of the economy; and (2) an index of leading indicators which includes the measurement of service sector activity in direct proportion to the contribution of the service sector to the gross national product of the United States.

15 U.S.C. § 4909 Exclusion of information

The Data Bank shall not include any information— (1) the disclosure of which to the public is prohibited under any other provision of law or otherwise authorized to be withheld under other provision of law; or (2) that is specifically authorized under criteria established by statute or an Executive order not to be disclosed in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order.

15 U.S.C. § 4910 Nonduplication

The Secretary shall ensure that information systems created or developed pursuant to this chapter do not unnecessarily duplicate information systems available from other Federal agencies or from the private sector.

15 U.S.C. § 4911 Collection of data

Except as provided in section 4908 of this title, nothing in this chapter shall be considered to grant independent authority to the Federal Government to collect any data or information from individuals or entities outside of the Federal Government.

15 U.S.C. § 4912 Fees and access

The Secretary shall provide reasonable public services and access (including electronic access) to any information maintained as part of the Data Bank and may charge reasonable fees consistent with section 552 of title 5.