In order to aid in the determination of whether conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade of the United States exist, or in order to aid in the formulation of appropriate regulations subsequent to a finding that conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade of the United States exist, the Commission may, when it deems necessary or appropriate, and without further proceedings, order any:

(a) Owner, operator, or charterer in the affected trade to furnish any or all of the following information:

(1) Statistics for a representative period showing passengers or cargo carried to and from the United States in the affected trade on vessels owned, operated or chartered by it, by type, source, value, and direction;

(2) Information for a representative period on the activities of vessels owned, operated, or chartered, which shall include sailings to and from United States ports, costs incurred, taxes or other charges paid to authorities, and subsidies or other payments received from foreign authorities;

(3) Information for a specified future period on the prospective activities of vessels which it owns, operates or charters or plans to own, operate or charter, to and from United States ports, which shall include projected sailings, anticipated costs, taxes or other charges to be paid to authorities, and expected subsidies or other payments to be received from foreign authorities; and

(4) Such other information that the Commission considers relevant to discovering or determining the existence of general or special conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade of the United States.

(b) Shipper, shippers' association, or ocean transportation intermediary in the affected trade to furnish any or all of the following information:

(1) Information for a representative period showing shipments made, type of cargo, commodity, carrier and vessel on which shipment was made, including furnishing copies of bills of lading and other shipping documents;

(2) Information relating to the application for, grant of, or securing of waivers or other exemption from requirements imposed by foreign governments that cargo move on national-flag, conference, or non-conference vessels;

(3) Amount of brokerage, ocean transportation intermediary compensation or other charges collected or paid in connection with shipments in the affected trade; and

(4) such other information that the Commission considers relevant to discovering or determining the existence of general or special conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade of the United States.

(c) Any marine terminal operator to furnish any or all of the following information:

(1) Marine terminal facilities agreements, whether or not on file with the Commission, into which it has entered with any ocean carrier in the affected trade;

(2) Information for a representative period showing the difference between the rates agreed to for use of its facilities by any ocean carrier serving the affected trade pursuant to an agreement authorizing preferential treatment or lease terms and those rates which would otherwise have applied to such services or leases.