Census Bureau Issues Update on Port of Unlading Requirement in AES Filings

U.S. exporters and freight forwarders should note that the Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division recently issued the following update regarding the Port of Unlading data element when filing Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System:

For shipments from the U.S. or Puerto Rico to a foreign country, the Port of Unlading Code is required for Vessel shipments only.

For shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, the Port of Unlading is required for Vessel and Air shipments only (see chart below).

Any submission of EEI outside of the scope described above will result in a fatal error Response Code: 141 "PORT OF UNLADING NOT ALLOWED FOR MOT".

                                

Specify a Port of Unlading When…  

                            ___________________________________________________

                                      ROUTE                          |       MOT (Mode of Transport)     

                            ___________________________________________________

                                U.S. to a Foreign Country       |                  Vessel Only   

                            ___________________________________________________

                            Puerto Rico to a Foreign Country |                  Vessel Only

                            ___________________________________________________

                                     U.S. to Puerto Rico            |             Vessel and Air Only

                            ___________________________________________________

                                      Puerto Rico to U.S.           |             Vessel and Air Only                   

In general, Census' Foreign Trade Regulations an EEI must be filed for shipments from the U.S. (including exports to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) when:

• Commodities from one U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) to one consignee on a single export carrier classified under an individual Schedule B code is greater than $2500 (exports to Canada are exempt from this requirement)
• The shipment requires an export license from BIS or DDTC, regardless of value.