# 2026-00691: Commerce Dept Streamlines Trade Surveys: Less Red Tape for Businesses

2026-00691, Survey of International Trade in Services Between U.S. and Foreign Persons and Surveys of Direct Investment, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department published 2026-01-15, effective 2026-01-15 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00691
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00691
- Title: Survey of International Trade in Services Between U.S. and Foreign Persons and Surveys of Direct Investment
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department
- Citation: 91 FR 1689
- Published: 2026-01-15
- Effective: 2026-01-15
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0691-AA95
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Commerce Dept Streamlines Trade Surveys: Less Red Tape for Businesses

## Summary

The Department of Commerce is cleaning up its rules about collecting data on trade in services and investments between the U.S. and other countries. They’re removing extra, unnecessary details to make the rules simpler and easier to understand. This change starts January 15, 2026, and helps businesses and the government get clearer info faster without extra hassle.

## Abstract

By this rule, the Department of Commerce is amending its regulations governing the collection of data on international trade in services and direct investment by removing certain provisions that merely restate what is clearly provided by the underlying statute and serve no meaningful purpose. The intended effect is to streamline such regulations, reduce regulatory clutter and complexity, and improve clarity for the public.

## Effects PRIA read

- Regulatory clutter removed; rules simplified: benefit, low. On January 15, 2026, the Department of Commerce removed redundant regulatory text (the second sentence of 15 CFR 801.1 and all of 15 CFR 801.5 and 801.6) to streamline the rules that govern BEA surveys. The change directs the public to the underlying statutes (22 U.S.C. 3101–3108 and related provis…
- Confidentiality rules centralized in statute: benefit, low. The rule removes 15 CFR 801.5 (confidentiality) but states that confidentiality protections remain in the statute at 22 U.S.C. 3104(c). If you provide data to BEA surveys, access to your information and prohibitions on identifying disclosures are governed by 22 U.S.C. 3104(c).
- Penalty provisions remain in statute (amounts unchanged): cost, high. The rule removes 15 CFR 801.6 but confirms that civil and criminal penalties for failing to report are set by statute at 22 U.S.C. 3105: civil fines of not less than $2,500 and not more than $25,000 (subject to inflationary adjustments), and willful failure may result in criminal penalties includin…
- No new reporting or recordkeeping required: benefit, low. The Department states this rule will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Businesses and other respondents should not expect new paperwork as a result of this change.

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## Sources
- [2026-00691 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/15/2026-00691/survey-of-international-trade-in-services-between-us-and-foreign-persons-and-surveys-of-direct)
- [2026-00691 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-15/pdf/2026-00691.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00690, Removing Obsolete Regulations Establishing Procedures for a Voluntary Labeling…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00690)
- [Next: 2026-00695, Stars and Stripes Media Organization](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00695)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00691 (as of 2026-06-11).