Foreign Trade

News

• FTR Letter No. 8 -Notice of 180 Day Informed Compliance Period for Regulatory Changes
  

  On April 3, 2014 the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division released FTR Letter No. 8 which serves to notify the trade community of a 180 day informed compliance period to the regulations that became effective on April 5, 2014.

• Goods and Services Deficit Increased in February 2014
  

  The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $42.3 billion in February from $39.3 billion in January (revised), as exports decreased and imports increased. (April 3, 2014)

• Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting Companies, 2011-2012

  The U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, releases the report, A Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting Companies, 2011 - 2012. It provides information on identified companies and their known export or import value. In 2012 the number of identified U.S. exporters was 304.9 thousand, up from 303.5 thousand in 2011.

• What is required to ship charity goods to the Philippines?

  On Friday, November 8, 2013, super typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.  Many U.S. residents and organizations are generously donating food, water, medicines, and other supplies to aid in the relief efforts.  In order to facilitate the movement of these goods, the following guidance is offered and applies to goods not requiring a license, such as food, clothing, and medicines.
  

• Foreign Trade Regulations Town Hall Webinars
  
  

  These in-depth webinars provide the information necessary to understand the changes to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR). Come learn about what has changed in the FTR and how that change will affect you. Best of all, the webinars are free. These webinars will focus on changes in reporting requirements, new fields added to the Automated Export System, changes in definitions, and much more. The webinars will start on July 18 and will be repeated on August 8, September 5, October 3, November 7, and December 12.
  Details

• New FT-900 Exhibit 19: Seasonally Adjusted Countries and Areas
  
  

  Beginning with the January 2014 release, the "U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services" report (FT-900) includes a new exhibit (Exhibit 19) that presents monthly and quarterly seasonally adjusted trade in goods on a Census basis for selected major trading partner countries and areas.

• Advanced Export Information (AEI) Pilot Program
  
  

  The U.S. Census Bureau is announcing the implementation of a pilot program to evaluate a new filing option in the Automated Export System (AES).  Specifically, the AEI pilot is a voluntary program in which selected exporters agree to submit a limited set of Electronic Export Information (EEI) in accordance with existing filing deadlines followed by the full set of data elements submitted within five calendar days of the date of export.  Correspondence indicating interest in the AEI pilot will be accepted until April 1, 2014.

• Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Final Rule Published in the Federal Register

  The Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division (FTD) published the final rule revising the FTR, Title 15, Part 30 on March 14, 2013. The publication of the final rule amends the FTR published in 2008. The effective date of January 8, 2014 gives the trade community 300 days to implement these new requirements. For more information, please call 1-800-549-0595, option 3 or email ftdregs@census.gov.