Direct Investment Surveys: BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad

This final rule amends regulations of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to reinstate reporting requirements for the 2014 BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad. Benchmark surveys are conducted every five years; the prior survey covered 2009. The benchmark survey covers the universe of U.S. direct investment abroad, and is BEA's most comprehensive survey of such investment in terms of subject matter. For the 2014 benchmark survey, BEA will make changes in the data items collected. No changes will be made to the reporting requirements for the survey. This mandatory survey will be conducted under the authority of the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act (the Act). Unlike many other BEA surveys conducted pursuant to the Act, a response will be required from persons subject to the reporting requirements of the BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, whether or not they are contacted by BEA, in order to ensure that respondents subject to the requirements for U.S. direct investment abroad are identified.