1. I want to export my "U.S. made" product(s)... where do I
start?
The best place to start is at your nearest U.S. Export
Assistance Center. Otherwise, the U.S. Department of Commerce's
Trade Information Center is your next stop for information
about all federal export assistance programs, information on
the nuts and bolts of exporting, export financing, and country
and regional market information. Contact them to receive
personal export assistance from a trade specialist Monday
through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. eastern time. Call
1-800-USA-TRADE (872-8723).
2. How do I know if I need to get an export license from the
Department of Commerce?
The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) is the primary licensing agency for dual use exports
(commercial items which could have military applications).
Other departments and agencies have regulatory jurisdiction
over certain types of exports and reexports. For example, the
State Department licenses the export defense articles and
services
Of those exports and reexports subject to BIS' Export Administration Regulations (EAR), a relatively small percentage require the submission of a license application to the Department of Commerce. License requirements are dependent upon an item's technical characteristics, the destination, the end-use, and the end-user, and other activities of the end-user. You will need the following five facts to determine your obligations under the EAR: What is the item you intend to export or reexport; Where is it going; Who will receive it; What will they do with it; and, What other activities are they involved in? Export control guidance is available at: http://www.bis.doc.gov/Licensing/exportingbasics.htm.
The first step in determining your license requirements under the EAR is to classify your product by determining its Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) on the Commerce Control List (CCL).
3. When do I fill out a Shipper's Export
Declaration?
When a shipment is over $2,500 or when an export license is
required (regardless of value), a SED is necessary. This
includes shipments by US post, as well as shipments to or
through the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This information is
used by the Foreign Trade Division of the US Census Bureau to
track US export statistics (import data is collected by US
Customs). The only country that does not need a SED is Canada.
If your product requires an export license, you are now
required to submit your SED electronically through the
Automated Export System (AES). It might be a good idea to start
filing your SED electronically now, as it saves us and you
money, and will be required for all shipments in the near
future.
4. When is NAFTA certificate necessary?
A NAFTA certificate is never necessary, but if your product has
a reduced tariff under NAFTA, it is in your interest to go
through the NAFTA certification process. Since we have MFN
trading status with both Mexico and Canada, your tariff rate
might already be 0%, without having to go through NAFTA
certification. If your products are used by other US
manufacturers who export to Canada and Mexico, they may request
that you certify your goods so that they can in turn get
preferential tariff treatment under NAFTA.
5. What's the difference between a Schedule B and HTS
number?
All import and export codes used by the U.S. are based on the
worldwide Harmonized Tariff System (HTS). The HTS assigns
6-digit codes (known as the HS number) for general categories
that are used worldwide. These 6-digit codes are broken down by
Chapter (2 digits), Heading (4 digits) and Sub-heading (6
digits). Countries that use the HTS are then allowed to further
define their commodities at a more detailed level, usually 8-10
digits, but still using the universal 6-digit number to start
with. The United States uses this system as a foundation for
determining both Schedule B numbers and the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which are nearly
identical. The Schedule B number (reported on your SED) is used
by Department of Commerce's Foreign Trade Statistics office to
generate export statistics. The HTSUS number is used by U.S.
Customs in the import process.