What Is an EEI Filing?

Are you adrift in the sea of export acronyms? Like many industries, international trade uses scores of acronyms that get bandied about like tennis balls at Wimbledon. Some of them you probably know; others only come up in specific circumstances.

One of the most important of these acronyms is EEI, which stands for Electronic Export Information. You’ve probably heard it used along with another set of acronyms—AES, ACE and SED. Let’s take a look at what it means and why it’s important.

What Is EEI?

The Electronic Export Information (EEI) is the export data that must be filed through the Automated Export System (AES) whenever an AES filing is required. The U.S. Foreign Trade Regulations require an AES filing for exports to anywhere other than Canada if the value of the exported goods grouped by Schedule B number is more than $2,500 or if the goods require an export license.

There are many other nuances of when an AES filing is required, so if you aren’t sure when to file, download our free guide:

The Census Bureau uses these filings to calculate U.S. trade statistics, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses the data to help ensure compliance with U.S. export regulations.

The Automated Commercial Environment

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is operated by CBP and serves as the primary interface in which U.S. importers and exporters file their import and export information. CBP is periodically updating the capabilities of the ACE platform to streamline the import-export reporting process, eliminate paper and more easily ensure compliance with U.S. laws and regulations.

We’ve published several articles about the transition from the outdated paper Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) form to the old AESDirect system operated by the Census Bureau to the new ACE platform, including some of the enhanced capabilities of the ACE platform. We’ve also uploaded a video showing how easy it is to use Shipping Solutions software to file through AES via the ACE portal.

Who Files the EEI?

In a standard export transaction, it is the responsibility of the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) to submit the EEI to AES. However, the USPPI can give their freight forwarder (or some other third party) a power of attorney (POA) or written statement authorizing them to prepare and file the EEI on their behalf. (In most cases, the USPPI is the same as the exporter.)

When an exporter is relying on a third party to submit the EEI filing, they should provide them with a Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) that includes all the export data that is required. The SLI also usually includes the written authorization required for the third party to file. (You can download a sample SLI here.)

In a routed export transaction, however, the Foreign Principal Party in Interest (FPPI) must provide a POA or other written authorization to submit the EEI to either the USPPI or a U.S. Authorized Agent. (In most cases, the FPPI is your ultimate consignee or foreign customer.)

I agree with the Census Bureau's recommendation that the USPPI should request the POA to file through AES on behalf of the FPPI instead of relying on an agent. That way the USPPI will know the EEI is filed accurately and mitigate their risk for compliance errors. I write about this at length in this article: Why I Hate Routed Export Transactions.

Required EEI Data

The Foreign Trade Regulations list dozens of specific pieces of information about the export transaction that must be included in your AES filings, and several more conditional fields that may be required depending on how you are shipping, what you are exporting and who you are shipping to.

If your shipment is a routed export transaction and your foreign customer’s freight forwarder has gotten written authorization to file through AES, you are still required to provide about a dozen data elements so the forwarder can file the correct information. Again, an SLI is used to do this.

You’ll find these required data fields, as well as your other responsibilities in a routed export transaction, in this blog post: Standard vs. Routed Export Shipment: What's the Difference?

Additional Resources

I’m not sure I’ve ever written an article that included so many different acronyms. (I think I’ll submit it to Guinness World Records to see if I can be included in their next book!) In the meantime, if you find all these acronyms confusing, check out this cheat sheet of common exporting acronyms. Or download our free guide: A Glossary of International Shipping Terms.

To learn more about EEI, AES and ACE, check out our AES guide, Filing Your Export Shipments through the Automated Export System (AES).

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This article was first published in August 2016 and has been updated to include current information, links and formatting.