US Census Bureau Clarifies Filing Time Frame

On April 23, 2008,Census Bureau issued a memorandum regarding filing time frames for shipments to Puerto Rico. The memorandum further clarifies the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Letter No. 1, issued September 4, 2008, requirement for advance filing of Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the Automated Export System for shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico. As specified in the FTR, § 30.4(b)(2), the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or its authorized agent shall file the EEI when required, no later than the time period specified by the mode of transportation.

It has been determined that the Trade Act deadlines do not apply to shipments within the U.S. Customs Territory, which includes Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico therefore is exempt from the filing time frames in the FTR. After further consultation with the trade community serving Puerto Rico, Census states that the proof of filing citation, post-departure filing citation, or exemption citation must be presented to the carrier by the time the shipment arrives at the port of unloading for shipments between the United Sates and Puerto Rico.

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AES Filing Time Frames Modified

The U.S. Census Bureau has modified the Automated Export System filing time frames for shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Since Puerto Rico is part of the ”Customs territory of the United States,” shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico are exempt from the advance filing requirements set forth in the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) that were issued last year.

In FTR Letter No. 1 issued in September 2008, Census advised that even though Puerto Rico-related shipments were exempt from the FTR’s advance filing requirements, the proof of filing citation had to be presented to the carrier “prior to departure” of the shipment.

After consulting with the trade community servicing Puerto Rico Census has modified the filing deadline. In FTR Letter No. 4, which was issued on April 23rd, Census stated that for shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico the proof of filing citation, postdeparture filing citation or exemption citation now has to be presented to the carrier “by the time the shipment arrives at the port of unlading.”

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