Title 12
SECTION 404.7
404.7 Confidential business information.
§ 404.7 Confidential business information.(a) Scope. This section applies to all business information, as defined in § 404.2. Such information shall only be disclosed pursuant to a FOIA request in accordance with this section.
(b) Submitter designation. All business submitters should designate, by appropriate markings, either at the time of submission or at a reasonable time thereafter, any portion of any submission that they consider to be exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4).
(c) Pre-disclosure notice to the business submitter. Whenever Ex-Im Bank receives a FOIA request seeking disclosure of business information, Ex-Im Bank shall provide prompt written notice to the submitter of such information. This notice shall include a description or a copy of the records containing the business information. Such notice shall not be required, however, if:
(1) Ex-Im Bank determines that the records shall not be disclosed;
(2) The records have been published or otherwise made available to the public; or
(3) disclosure of the records is required by law.
(d) Opportunity to object to disclosure. The business submitter shall have ten working days from and including the date of the notification letter to provide Ex-Im Bank with a detailed statement of any objection to disclosure of the records. A submitter located outside the United States shall have twenty working days to object to disclosure. Ex-Im Bank may extend the time for objection upon timely request from the submitter and for good cause shown. A statement of objection must specify all grounds under the FOIA for withholding the information.
(e) Notice to the requester. The Freedom of Information and Privacy Office shall notify the requester in writing whenever a business submitter is afforded the opportunity to object to disclosure of records pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section.
(f) Disclosure of confidential business information. Ex-Im Bank shall consider any objections raised by the business submitter prior to making its disclosure decision.
(g) Notice of intent to disclose. Whenever Ex-Im Bank determines to disclose business information over the objection of a business submitter, Ex-Im Bank shall notify the business submitter, in writing, of such determination, the reasons for the decision, and the expected disclosure date. This notification - which shall be provided at least ten days prior to the planned disclosure date and which shall include a copy or description of the records at issue - is intended to afford the submitter the opportunity to seek judicial review.
(h) Notice to requester of disclosure date. If Ex-Im Bank determines to disclose records over a business submitter's objection, then Ex-Im Bank shall notify the requester of the expected disclosure date.
(i) Appeal. Whenever Ex-Im Bank determines to disclose, pursuant to an administrative appeal, business information that initially was withheld from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), Ex-Im Bank shall notify the business submitter. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be provided ten working days prior to the proposed disclosure date. It shall include a copy or description of the records at issue and a statement of Ex-Im Bank's reasons for disclosure.
(j) Notice of FOIA lawsuit. Ex-Im Bank shall promptly notify the submitter whenever a requester brings suit against Ex-Im Bank seeking to compel the release of business information covered by this section. Ex-Im Bank shall promptly notify the requester when a submitter brings suit against Ex-Im seeking to restrict the release of business information that is covered by this section.
(k) Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this part, Ex-Im Bank may, upon request or on its own initiative, publicly disclose the parties to transactions for which Ex-Im Bank approves support, the amount of such support, the identity of any participants involved, a general description of the related U.S. exports, and the country to which such exports are destined.