ITC FY 2011 Budget Request Lists ITDS/ITC Software Goals, Etc.
On February 1, 2010, the President submitted his fiscal year 2011 budget request (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011) to Congress. The FY 2011 budget request for the International Trade Commission is $87 million, a 6.3% increase over the FY 2010 final appropriation. The ITC's increased funding request is driven largely by increases in salaries, benefits, and rent costs.
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Highlights of the ITC's FY 2011 Workload and Funding Needs
In its budget justification document, the ITC discusses its expected workload and funding requirements for FY 2011:
HTS, reports to Congress, DataWeb, etc. - The ITC projects that it will need an additional $76,0002 for its tariff and trade information services in FY 2011 (as compared with FY 2010). The ITC's tariff and trade information services include maintenance and publication of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, preparation of legislative reports for Congress, drafting of implementing annexes for trade agreements, maintenance of the Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb, and contributing to development of the International Trade Data System.
For ITDS, in FY 2010 or early FY 2011 the ITC hopes to complete development of new software that will use the XML format of the HTS reference tool to prepare and publish the HTS in the future. This would allow the transfer of key tariff information to and from external databases at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and within the ITC.
The ITC notes that the extent of its resources it will have to devote to legislative reports in FY 2011 will depend largely on the number of new miscellaneous trade bills introduced during the 112thCongress, which will begin in January 2011.
The ITC estimates that the FY 2011 operational and maintenance costs for DataWeb and related trade data systems will be the same as in FY 2010.
AD/CV and sunset investigations - The ITC estimates that it will need an additional $1 million in FY 20111 (as compared with FY 2010) for import injury investigations. The ITC estimates new antidumping/countervailing filings in FY 2011 to remain at levels similar to FY 2009-2010.
The ITC notes that virtually all new AD/CV investigations have resulted in affirmative determinations which are expected to increase the ITC's sunset case load for FY 2011 relative to recent years. For FY 2011, the ITC expects to institute 36 sunset reviews, with 26 being full and 10 being expedited.
Section 337 investigations - The ITC expects its Section 337 caseload and related appellate litigation will continue at a high level in FY 2011. The ITC anticipates completion of approximately 45 Section 337 investigations and ancillary proceedings in FY 2011. The ITC estimates that it will need an additional $1.9 million1 for intellectual property-based import investigations (i.e., Section 337 investigations) in FY 2011 (as compared to FY 2010).
Section 332 investigations - The ITC projects institution of 16 new industry and economic analysis (Section 332) investigations in 2011. The ITC anticipates that it will need an additional $1.5 million1 for such investigations in FY 2011 (as compared to FY 2010).
Information technology - The ITC is reengineering its Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) in three phases. The ITC will continue to develop and implement additional requirements requested in the EDIS user community in FY 2010. The ITC will schedule software releases on a three-month cycle through FY 2011.
1Most of this expected increase represents increased labor costs
2Over 40% of this expected increase would be for equipment-related costs
ITC FY 2011 budget justification available at http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/documents/budget_2011.pdf.