ELECTRONIC FILING FOR ALL SHIPMENTS REQUIRING SED NOW MANDATORY 

The U.S. Census Bureau has issued the final rule, which is requiring mandatory filing of export information through the Automated Export System (AES) or through the AESDirect for all shipments where a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) is required, effective July 2, 2008. There will be a 90-day implementation period, which ends September 30, 2008. After that, you must file your export information electronically through the AES or AESDirect. These new regulations, published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2008, have tougher penalty provisions that affect everyone in the export process. Penalties may be imposed per violation of the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) from $1,100 to $10,000 both civil and criminal. Anyone submitting paper SEDs after September 30, 2008, will be in violation and subject to penalties. For more information on this important rule, please visit: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/mandatory/index.html

The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is a federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized companies with their exporting strategies. Our experienced staff of International Trade Specialists located in Clearwater, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, & Tallahassee are committed to helping your business export.

Our trade experts assist U.S. firms in exporting their products and services by providing comprehensive counseling and advice, through timely and accurate intelligence regarding foreign markets, by identifying qualified international buyers and representatives, by advocating on their behalf, and by providing comprehensive solutions to whatever challenges they may encounter.

For more information on how we can help your company succeed in the global marketplace, please visit our services page. To learn first-hand how we can help your company grow internationally, click on Tell Us About You.