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Overview - Getting Started on AES

Understand your roles and responsibilities when transmitting export information into the AES.

Contents:

What is AES?

The Automated Export System (AES) is a computer system that collects Electronic Export Information (EEI). In many cases, the law requires you to report EEI for goods exported from the United States and its territories. For specifics on when EEI filing is required, see the Correct Way to Complete the EEI.

Who May Participate in AES?

U. S. Principal Parties in Interest (USPPIs), Authorized Agents, Service Centers, and Software Developers may participate in AES.

How do Participants Get Started using AES?

Getting started in AES varies depending on the type of participant. In general, two types of certification may be required to use AES: filer certification and software certification.

In short, those who complete the EEI must get filer certification and those who create computer programs to send the EEI must get software certification.

The table below shows the two types of certification and the types of participants that are eligible for each.

Type of AES Certification: Filer Certification Software Certification
Type of AES Participant: USPPI Authorized Agent USPPI Authorized Agent Service Center Software Developer

Filer certification is the approval granted to allow certain companies or individuals to report information needed to complete the EEI electronically. Only USPPIs and authorized agents are eligible for filer certification. The filer certification consists of completing the filer certification process or passing the AESDirect or AESPcLink Certification Quiz.

Software certification is the approval granted to allow a company or individual to use or develop software that they create to send EEI to the AES. USPPIs, authorized agents, service centers and software developers are eligible for software certification. See the software certification process.

To help you understand what you need to get started, we provide the below scenarios.

Six Getting Started Scenarios:
1 If a USPPI or authorized agent decides to report the EEI using purchased AES-certified software, then the USPPI or authorized agent would need only to obtain filer certification.
2 If a USPPI decides to delegate the filing of the EEI to an authorized agent, then the USPPI would not need either certification. The authorized agent would follow scenario #1 or scenario #3.
3 If a USPPI or authorized agent decides that they want to use AESDirect.gov to report EEI, then the USPPI or authorized agent would need only to become certified to report via AESDirect.gov. AESDirect.gov filer certification consists of passing the AESDirect or AESPcLink Certification Quiz.
4 If a USPPI or authorized agent decides to report the EEI using an AES-certified service center, then the USPPI or authorized agent would need only to obtain filer certification.
5 If a USPPI or authorized agent plans to develop and use its own proprietary AES software, then the USPPI or authorized agent must obtain both filer and software certification.
6 If a software developer plans to develop and market its own AES-certified software to the export trade community, then the software developer must obtain software certification.

 

 

 

FTD Web News

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Foreign Trade has just created and published its official blog, "Global Reach." Visit it to discuss the Foreign Trade Regulations, Export Filing (AES), Trade Data, and other trade related topics. Posts are current and relevant to you as the filer, exporter, data user, or curious blog reader. (January 5, 2010)

FTZ: Guidelines for Submtting Statistical Data (PDF) (1.8 MB)
Guidelines and best practices for fulfilling FTZ's statistical reporting requirements are now available.

NEW EXPORT TRAINING VIDEOS!!!
- Training videos on topics such as the Foreign Trade Regulations, AESDirect, NAFTA, Taxes/Tariffs, Commodities, etc. now available!

2009 Constant Dollar Data
- The Census Bureau identified a processing error that caused incorrect deflators to be applied to the revised data for 2009. The data have been corrected.

2009 DATA PRODUCT CHANGES
- U.S. Census Bureau will modify the structure of several data products to accommodate changing technology and user demand.

EXPORT COMPLIANCE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
- The export environment has dramatically changed. Come and understand what it takes to remain compliant, aware and out of trouble.

2003 AES Option 4 Moratorium
Option 4 Filing Review Process Suspended

AES Compliance Best Practices:
Best Practices for maintaining AES Compliance are now available.

Related Party Database Application:
Time series RELATED PARTY data for specific commodities and countries.

ORDER AND DOWNLOAD FOREIGN TRADE DATA PRODUCTS:
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NEW Schedule B Search Engine:
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NEWEST TRADE DATA!
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Source: FTDWebMaster, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. 20233
Location: MAIN: AES:GETTING STARTED
Created: 12 Jul 2002
Last modified: 12 July 2011 at 04:09:21 PM