International Services Surveys: BE-48, Annual Survey of Reinsurance and Other Insurance Transactions by U.S. Insurance Companies With Foreign Persons

This final rule revises regulations for the BE-48, Annual Survey of Reinsurance and Other Insurance Transactions by U.S. Insurance Companies with Foreign Persons. The BE-48 survey is conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Department of Commerce, under the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act. The data are needed to support U.S. trade policy initiatives; compile the U.S. international transactions, national income and product, and input-output accounts; assess U.S. competitiveness in international trade in services; and improve the ability of U.S. businesses to identify and evaluate market opportunities. The revised rule raises the exemption level for the 2001 annual survey to $2 million in either reinsurance premiums, received or paid; reinsurance losses, paid or recovered; primary insurance premiums received; or primary insurance losses paid, from $1 million on the previous (2000) survey. Raising the exemption level will reduce respondent burden, particularly for small companies.