International Trade Blog

U.S. exporters quickly develop an awareness of two acronyms: ITAR, the U.S. Department of State’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and EAR, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations. I often get calls from exporters asking similar questions: “How do I know if my items are controlled by ITAR or EAR?” or “I’ve determined that my items are covered by the EAR. Now what?”

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is charged with enforcing the EAR, explains that there is a specific Order of Review process for determining export controls jurisdiction (which agency controls the export) and classification (the correct commodity classification code to use for the product being exported). This article breaks it down.

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Depending on your industry, you may have heard mention of 600 series Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs). The 600 series includes items that were previously listed in the United States Munitions List (USML) and controlled by the U.S. State Department per the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or were covered by the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List (WAML). Instead, these items now have been moved to the Commerce Control List (CCL), administered by the U.S. Commerce Department under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). 

The first 600 series ECCNs went into effect in 2013. Though the 600 series has existed for almost a decade, many are still scratching their heads wondering what it’s all about.

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All exporters—regardless of size—must comply with U.S. export regulations.

Export compliance entails that you are following the rules and regulations established by the U.S. government. Among those rules is a restriction on doing business with entities the government deems a danger to U.S. interests.

Failure to comply is a violation of U.S. law and may result in civil or criminal prosecution, as well as denial of exporting privileges.

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In my previous blog post, I described how to determine if you need an export license by identifying the reasons for control and checking the Commerce Country Chart. In this article I will describe how to determine if there are any export license exceptions available and how to use these exceptions.

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In my role at Shipping Solutions, I am privileged to talk with people from many different kinds of companies involved in international trade. As you might expect, I receive a lot of questions!

Today’s blog post compiles some of the most frequently asked questions that I hear. I hope that by the time you reach the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of some of the most common issues relevant to international trade.

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Shipping products seems simple, right? You simply package the product and send it to your customer. But did you know there are different types of shipment?

Depending on the size of your shipment, it may be considered parcel, less-than-load (LTL) or a full truckload (FTL) shipment. Your shipment may be too small for certain carriers, or conversely, if you have a large shipment, you may have to rely on a carrier certified to ship large containers. There are also unique considerations depending on the mode of transport—whether you’re shipping via air, sea, road or rail.

The wide variety of terms that relate to the process of moving goods through a supply chain may seem overwhelming. Understanding the different types of shipment and related terms is crucial to ensure your goods get shipped on time, within compliance and in good shape.

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When you first venture into international shipping, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by unfamiliar terms.

As an exporter, understanding the parties involved in international logistics and using the correct language is key to understanding everyone's role in the export process. It will facilitate clear communication so that you, your customer, and your logistics partners are on the same page, ensuring your shipment gets where it needs to be on time—and that you get paid on time!

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If you are involved in shipping or logistics, you've probably heard of a master bill of lading and a house bill of lading. But if you're like many of us, you might not understand the difference between the two.

Before we unpack the difference between these two types of bill of lading, it is important to understand what a bill of lading is in general.

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The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has announced that license exception CIV (Civil End-Users) has been eliminated effective June 29, 2020. BIS also announced a related expansion of military end-use and end-user controls.

An export license exception allows you to export certain items that may be controlled by the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) without first obtaining an export license from the Commerce Department. For a more detailed explanation of export license exceptions, read my article: A Beginner's Guide to Export License Exceptions.

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As an exporter, you will no doubt become familiar with the Automated Export System (AES) if you aren’t already. This is the system that the United States uses to collect data on exports out of the country as outlined in the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR).

The U.S. Census Bureau uses this data, which they call Electronic Export Information (EEI), to compile statistics on economic indicators and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses this data to ensure that exporters are following regulations and that exports do not end up in the hands of restricted parties who may pose a threat to the national security of the United States.

All exporters should know if, how and when they are expected to file their export information through AES.

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