U.S CUSTOMS, CENSUS ANNOUNCE FINAL RULES FOR AES

   U.S. Customs and the Bureau of the Census have announced the final rules
to support implementation of the Automated Export System (AES).
   AES is a nationwide system that enables exporters to submit required
export data to the government electronically. The system was developed
jointly by Customs and Census to eliminate the filing of shippers export
declarations on paper.
   Customs uses the data from export declarations for enforcement purposes,
while Census uses it to compile trade statistics. The regulations are
expected to be published in the Federal Register on July 28.
   The regulations define the export requirements, options and procedures
for AES. They also help many exporters transition to AES from Census’
30-year-old Automated Export Reporting System, which is scheduled to be
turned off Dec. 31. AERP filers that are not on AES by the end of the year
will be forced to revert to paper filing of export declarations on Jan. 1.
   Under the new rules, exporters will have four options to file their
export declarations:
   * Option 1: File all export declarations on paper prior to export.
   * Option 2: File all shipment data prior to export through AES.
   * Option 3: Require that some data be filed prior to export, with the
full information to be filed five days after export.
   * Option 4: Permit Census-approved exporters to file all their export
data 10 days after export. Forwarders may filed export declarations under
this option for approved shippers if they have the power of attorney.