Technical Documentation


Sources and Limitations

The data in this release are compiled from administrative records from the official U.S. import 
and export merchandise trade statistics.   The merchandise trade data are a complete enumeration
of documentation collected by the U.S. Customs Service and are not subject to sampling error.  
Quality assurance procedures are performed at every stage of collection, processing and 
tabulation; however,the data are still subject to nonsampling errors. These include undocumented
shipments, timeliness,data capture errors and errors in the estimation of low-valued transactions

Related party shipments are identified by an indicator, "R" for related or "N" for nonrelated, 
that is required on every import or export transaction.  However, importers and exporters, 
especially exporters, do not always  report  the indicator on their shipments.  No attempt is 
made to estimate the related party status of shipments with missing indicators; instead, they 
are categorized on the data tables as "nonreported."  Therefore, the ratios of related and 
unrelated party trade are understated. 


Users are advised to consider these limitations  in their analysis of this data as they may 
affect the results. 

Definitions

Related party trade:

Imports:  As defined in Section 402(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, related party trade includes
          transactions between parties with various types of relationships including "any
          person directly or indirectly, owning, controlling or holding power to vote, 6 
          percent of the outstanding voting stock or shares of any organization."  

Exports:  The Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations, 30.7(v), define a related party transaction
          as one between a U.S. exporter and a foreign consignee, where either party owns,
          directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the other party.

Imports for Consumption: The import data shown in this report are imports for consumption that 
measure all merchandise that has physically cleared through Customs, either entering consumption
channels immediately or after withdrawal from bonded warehouses under Customs custody or from
Foreign Trade Zones.

Customs Value: The import data in this report are based on Customs value, generally defined as 
the price actually paid or payable for merchandise when sold for exportation to the United 
States,excluding U.S. import duties, freight, insurance and other charges incurred in bringing 
the merchandise to the United States.

F.A.S. Value: Exports are valued on a free alongside ship basis, which reflects transaction 
price including inland freight, insurance and other charges incurred in placing the merchandise
alongside the ship at the port of export.

Low Value Estimates: Import and export transactions below specified values are estimated using
factors based on the ratios of low-valued transactions to individual country totals for past 
periods. Import transactions valued $2,000 or less, excluding certain textile articles and 
other articles, and all export transactions valued $2,500 or less are estimated.  

Re-exports: Exports of foreign merchandise that previously entered the U.S. Customs Territory 
and are exported in substantially the same condition as when imported. 

Inquiries related to these data may be directed to the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division,
Special Projects Branch, Washington, D.C. 20233.  Contact: Emmanuel O. Omoruyi (301) 763-3251
or emmanuel.o.omoruyi@census.gov.