Direct Investment Surveys: Raising Exemption Level for Two Surveys of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

These final rules amend 15 CFR Part 806.15 by raising the exemption level for reporting in two surveys of foreign direct investment in the United States. The exemption level for the quarterly survey of transactions of U.S. affiliates with their foreign parents (Forms BE-605 and BE-605 Bank) is raised to $30 million from $20 million. The exemption level for the survey of U.S. businesses newly acquired or established by foreign inventors (Forms BE-13 and BE- 14) is raised to $3 million from $1 million. These changes bring the surveys into conformity with the BE-12, Benchmark Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States-- 1997, and reduce reporting burden on small respondents. For the quarterly survey, other changes, which do not require a change in rules, may increase the reporting burden slightly, thereby offsetting a portion of the overall reduction in burden that results from raising the exemption level.