The EEI is used for compiling the official U.S. export statistics and for export control purposes. The U.S. Census Bureau is responsible for collecting, compiling and publishing export trade statistics for the United States. The Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) authorize the secretary of commerce, along with the secretary of state and the secretary of homeland security, to publish regulations mandating that anyone required to report export information, file such information through the Automated Export System (AES).

Refer to the About EEI section and the information on FTR Exemptions for more details.

Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Section 3.1(a): Public Law 107-228 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to publish regulation mandating that all persons required to file export information under Chapter 9 of Title 13, U.S. Code file such information through the Automated Export System (AES). The information collected is necessary to compile the official U.S. export statistics, enforcing U.S. export laws and regulations, and other purposes authorized by the secretary of commerce as listed in FTR 30.60.

The U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) require that items of domestic or foreign origin under the same commodity classification number be reported separately and listed if any item is valued at more than US$2,500.

Authorized federal agencies may use EEI for official purposes only. Information may not be disclosed to anyone by any officer, employee, contractor or agent of the federal government, or other parties with access to the EEI, other than to the USPPI or the authorized agent of the USPPI. The EEI is confidential and used solely for official purposes.

You may select one of the following EEI filing options based on your needs:

• For FedEx Express^® shipments, the exporter or U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) can self-file directly with ACE AESDirect portal (at no charge).
• For FedEx Express shipments, the exporter or USPPI can enter the required data using FedEx Export AgentFile at fedex.com. Please see Service Guide for current charge per filing.
• For FedEx Express, the exporter or USPPI can complete, sign and email or fax the FedEx Export AgentFile form that authorizes FedEx as their agent. Contact FedEx International Customer Service at 1.800.463.3339 (1.800.463.3339) say "international services." Please see Service Guide for current charge per filing.

The Automated Export System (AES)/ACE AESDirect Portal is a Department of Homeland Security computer system used by U.S. exporters to electronically declare international exports (known as Electronic Export Information — EEI) to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau collects the export trade data for statistical purposes only.   

Yes. You will need to get the carrier data elements, which include:

• Port of export
• Port of unlading*
• Carrier identification code
• Conveyance name

*Only required for by-air shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

You can obtain FedEx Express  carrier data elements by accessing the EEI Tools and Information page.

The U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or the U.S. authorized agent can file EEI through the Automated Export System (AES)/ACE AESDirect portal.

An authorized agent prepares and files the EEI record on behalf of the USPPI. The USPPI appoints an authorized agent by giving a properly executed power of attorney or written authorization to an agent or forwarder certified for filing EEI to the AES.

A routed export transaction occurs when the Foreign Principal Party in Interest (FPPI) authorizes a U.S. agent to facilitate the export shipment from the U.S. and to prepare and file the EEI.

No. FedEx will not file routed export transactions as an authorized agent.

The USPPI is the person or legal entity in the U.S. that receives the primary benefit, monetary or otherwise, from the export transaction. Generally, that person or entity is the U.S. seller, manufacturer or order party, or is a foreign entity purchasing or obtaining goods for export while in the U.S.

Filing deadlines for EEIs transmitted predeparture are:

• Air (non-USML shipments): No later than two hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the aircraft.
• Air (USML shipments): No later than eight hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the aircraft.

Postdeparture is the privilege granted to approved USPPIs to file their EEI up to 10 calendar days after the date of export. Postdeparture filing is only available for approved USPPIs. The moratorium placed on new postdeparture filers in August 2003 will remain in effect pending further review of the program.

• Civil penalties for filing an EEI late or failure to file an EEI are $1,100 for each day delinquent with a maximum of $10,000 per violation.
• Civil penalties for filing false and/or misleading information and involvement of illegal activities are $10,000 per violation.
• Criminal penalties for filing false and/or misleading information may be up to $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, for each violation.

• If you self-file using ACE AESDirect Portal, you will need to retrieve the shipment record, correct the data and retransmit the EEI.
• If an authorized agent filed the EEI, you will need to contact the authorized agent with your corrections or cancellations.
• If you used FedEx Export AgentFile^® at fedex.com, and if the shipment was exported, you can retrieve the shipment record, but it cannot be corrected after the date of export shipment was exported. Contact FedEx EEI Operations at 1.866.352.3252 to make your corrections.
• If you used the manual fax process for FedEx Export AgentFile, you may call FedEx EEI Operations at 1.866.352.3252 or fax corrections to 1.866.879.9037.
   

Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Section 30.9: The USPPI or the authorized filing agent is responsible for electronically transmitting accurate EEI, as known at the time of filing, in the AES and must transmit changes to that information as soon as they are known.  

Send an amendment email with the Shipper Reference Number (SRN) or Internal Transaction Number (ITN) to Memphis EEI Operations at mem-agentsed@mail.fedex.com.

The AES Proof of Filing Citation is a notation place on the air waybill or shipping label that will identify the export information has been accepted as transmitted to AES/ACE AESDirect Portal.

The valid AES Proof of Filing Citation formats are:

• AES Predeparture  Citation — Internal Transaction Number (ITN). The ITN is issued when AES has received the data and has approved the shipment for export. Note: In August 2003, the Census Bureau, in agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), placed a moratorium on accepting new applications for postdeparture filing.

• AES Postdeparture Citation — The privilege granted to an approved USPPI for the EEI to be filed up to 10 calendar days after the date of export.
  
  AESPOST USPPI EIN mm/dd/yyyy (date of export)
  
  Example: AESPOST 34523489700 03/26/18
  


• AES Downtime Citation — Used when the AES or a related system experiences a major failure due to unforeseen problems. This citation can be used only when AES or AESDirect is unavailable and AES has authorized its use.
  
  AESDOWN Filer ID mm/dd/yyyy
  
  Example:  AESDOWN. 12345678912 03/27/2018

The USPPI or the authorized agent is responsible for annotating the air waybill or electronic shipping label with the proof of filing citations, downtime filing citation or FTR exemption legends. The USPPI or authorized agent must provide the proof of filing citation or FTR exemption legend to the exporting carrier. The carrier must note the proof of filing citation or FTR exemption legend on the carrier’s U.S. manifest when required.

The ITN is the AES-generated number assigned to a shipment confirming that an EEI transaction was accepted and is on file in the AES. The ITN must be provided on the air waybill or electronic shipping label so Customs Border Protection (CBP) is able to retrieve the shipment, if needed.

All parties to the export transaction (owners and operators of the exporting carriers, USPPIs and/or authorized agents) must retain documents or records pertaining to the shipment for five years from the date of export. In addition to the U.S. Census Bureau requirements, other government agencies may have a retention requirement beyond five years. All parties must also adhere to other agencies' requirements on retention.

• Find EEI information at FedEx^® Global Trade Manager.
• Contact AES online or call the AES Call Center at 1.800.549.0595.