SED and AES: Changes Are Coming Your Way
Many U.S. exporters continue to use the paper version of the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED). Some use it as their primary method of filing, and others use it as a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI). In either case, it is now time to obtain the newest version of the paper form before October 18, 2003, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s website.

Home

Many U.S. exporters continue to use the paper version of the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED). Some use it as their primary method of filing, and others use it as a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI).

In either case, it is now time to obtain the newest version of the paper form before October 18, 2003, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s website.

As an SLI, the exporter uses the SED format to provide the freight forwarder with an informal power of attorney to act as their freight forwarder along with information about their firm and the products being shipped.

The forwarder then completes the form by adding final shipping details including information about the vessel, airline, ports, equipment, and the departure date prior to submitting it as a paper SED. In most cases the forwarder will not file the paper SED; they will file the information electronically through the Automated Export System.

The new SED includes two changes from the current version of the form:

  1. It asks the person preparing the SED to identify the forwarding agent’s EIN (IRS) number in field 5b.
  2. It adds a revised confidentiality statement in field 30: “Confidential – Shipper’s Export Declarations (or any successor document) wherever located, shall be exempt from public disclosure unless the Secretary determines that such exemption would be contrary to the national interest (Title 13, Chapter 9, Section 301 (g)).” This statement allows the Secretary of Commerce to disclose details about the shipment in the event that the SED is required to uphold laws/ regulations pertaining to exportation.

Shifting From the SED to AES

The new paper SED has a limited shelf life, according to news releases issued by Census. Officials expect the new SED will expire sometime in 2004, probably towards the end of the year. At that point, the paper SED will go away and exporters will be required to file the information electronically through AES.

The final date of mandatory use of AES depends on:

Exporters with products on the Commerce Department’s Commerce Control List (CCL) or the U.S. Munitions List (USML) are required to file their SED information electronically through AES beginning October 18, 2003.

Initially, there had also been some discussions by the Census Bureau of including a new AES Certification test for exporters. This proposal was discussed publicly in Minnesota at a May 2003 Midwest Global Trade Association meeting. Since that time, however, Census seems to have put this new requirement on hold.

According to the Census Bureau, they are moving to eliminate the paper SED and mandate the use of AES in order to provide more accurate statistics and increase homeland security and security on board planes and vessels.

Census will likely be influenced by input from exporters and trade associations as it redesigns AES. The American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) is one of several large national trade groups that is providing input on AES.

To submit comments and input about the shift towards AES, you can submit your comments directly to Census at askaes@census.gov.

Powered By Traffic Booster Absolute News Manager Plug-in by Xigla Software

This article has been moved here