§ 4906. — Establishment of Data Bank.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC4906]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 75--NATIONAL TRADE DATA BANK
Sec. 4906. Establishment of Data Bank
(a) Establishment
Within 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) of
this section and the Export Promotion Data System, as described in
subsection (c) of this section.
(b) International Economic Data System
The 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 \1\ of entry
for imports of goods and, to the extent possible, services; and
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be ``port''.
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(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 System
The 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.
(Pub. L. 100-418, title V, Sec. 5406, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1464.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 4901, 4903, 4913 of this
title.
