To: U.S. Customs Service Headquarters, Customs Management Centers, Port Directors,
Foreign Trade Zone Operators, Department of Commerce District Offices,
U.S. Principal Parties in Interest, Freight Forwarders, Exporting Carriers,
Consolidators, and All Others Concerned

From: U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau)

Subject: Requirement for U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) to File Shipper's Export Declarations (SEDs) or Automated Export System (AES) Records for Exports to and from Puerto Rico

This is to clarify and emphasize reporting requirements contained in the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (FTSR), Title 15, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR), Part 30, thatrequire the USPPI to file a SED or AES record for all exports from the United States to Puerto Rico and from Puerto Rico to the United States regardless of the method oftransportation. In cases where a forwarding or other agent is filing export information onbehalf of a principal party in interest, including for Puerto Rico, the forwarding or other agent must obtain a power of attorney or written authorization from the principal party ininterest. See section 30.4(e) of the final rule published in the Federal Register on July 10, 2000.

Statistics on shipments from the United States to Puerto Rico and shipments from Puerto Rico to the United States are compiled from information furnished on the SED, that are required to be filed with Customs, and shipments by certified USPPIs, who have been authorized to submit data by automated means, directly through the AES. Puerto Rico is a Customs district within the U.S. Customs territory and its trade with foreign countries is included in the U.S. export and import statistics.

The FTSR requires carriers to submit their SEDs and outward cargo manifests to Customs at theport of arrival in Puerto Rico rather than at the U.S. port of departure. Furthermore, air carriers transporting merchandise between the United States and Puerto Rico are requiredto file complete manifests as opposed to manifesting only cargo for which SEDs are either not required or not available. Air manifests for all cargo exempt from SED requirements shallinclude a summary line of information providing the total weight, in kilograms.

Every effort should be made by the USPPIs, forwarding agents, and carriers to comply with theserequirements. If you have questions concerning these requirements, please contact theRegulations, Outreach, and Education Branch, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, n (301) 457-2238, or the Automated Export System Branch, on (301) 457-3539.

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C. HARVEY MONK, JR.
Chief, Foreign Trade Division