International Trade Blog

As an exporter, you must be concerned with the proper classification of your goods and products.

I hear from many exporters who are confused about the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) classification for their product and the Harmonized System (HS), Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), and Schedule B numbers of their products.

First, it’s critical to understand that these classification systems have different purposes.

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Do you want to go bungee jumping?

Perhaps this seems like a strange question, but stay with me. Are people who bungee jump crazy? Or are they just having fun and seeking an adrenaline rush?

No matter your opinion, the point is that bungee jumpers have assessed the risk and determined that it is acceptable.

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If you are an exporter who submits your electronic export information through the Automated Export System (AES) on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), you've already set up an ACE account.

But if your companies relies on a third party like your freight forwarder to handle the ACE filings for your exports, you probably haven't bothered to set up an account.

While there's no requirement to set up an ACE account if you aren't doing your own AESDirect filings, you are missing an opportunity to use the ACE platform to help ensure your company is complying with U.S. export regulations.

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The relationship between Mexico and the United States has been highly publicized as of late—from border walls to drug cartels to the USMCA. Despite the sometime contentious relationship between the two countries, U.S. exporters should still consider Mexico an exciting growth opportunity.

This article looks at the history of U.S. trade with Mexico; how the USMCA has altered trade with Mexico; the process of exporting to Mexico, including documentation and compliance requirements; and the benefits and considerations for U.S. companies looking to break into the Mexican market.

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Lisa recently talked to someone who was having trouble with an EEI filing. He kept getting an error and couldn’t figure out why—until he realized the Schedule B number he was using wasn’t current, so AESDirect was rejecting the filing.

This is an important reminder for all exporters (and importers, too!) to stay current on product classification numbers. Exporters need to be concerned about the accuracy of their export documents and Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing through AESDirect. Importers need to be concerned as well; if they use an outdated number, it may cause problems with customs clearance.

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Restricted party lists (also called denied party lists) include names of organizations, companies or individuals that various U.S. agencies—and other international organizations and foreign governments—have identified as parties that one cannot do business with.

There are several reasons why a person or a company may be added to a restricted party list, which we’ve outlined in the article, Export Compliance: Understanding Restricted Party Screening. Essentially, they may be a terrorist organization or affiliated with such an organization, they may have a history of corrupt business practices, or they may otherwise pose a threat to national security.

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While it’s possible for importers and exporters to manually do all the work required for compliance, it can be a difficult task.

In addition to requiring deep knowledge of the regulations, manual compliance processes also demand constant, thoughtful attention to the import-export universe—including regulatory changes, product classification revisions, updates and additions to denied party and sanctions lists, and more.

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So, you’ve determined your goods need an export license? Good! That’s a great first step toward compliance—but you’ve still got some work to do.

If your products fall under the jurisdiction of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), it’s time to submit an application for a license through the online Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R).

As you complete your application, keep an eye out for these five potential problems, which could delay your export license or even subject you to penalties, fines and civil or criminal prosecution.

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The certificate of origin is a document issued by an exporter that confirms and certifies the country of origin of its products.

Alternatively, it might be a separate letter or form that incorporates a statement indicating the country of origin is as stated on the commercial invoice and certifies the document is true and correct; it is then signed by the exporter’s employee.

It is issued by the exporter, stamped by a Chamber of Commerce, and supported by a commercial invoice declaring the same information.

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Filing through the Automated Export System (AES) can be a tedious experience. That's no secret.

While you can enter your electronic export information (EEI) directly on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) under AESDirect, you must reenter much of the same information that you've already entered on your various export forms.

It's a slow and time-consuming process. And you still have the challenge of making sure you've got everything entered correctly.

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