Notice2026-01432
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Automated Export System
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 26, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentCensus Bureau
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3102-3104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01432]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Automated Export System
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and
continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of
our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register on September 11, 2025 during a 60-day comment period.
This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.
Title: Automated Export System.
OMB Control Number: 0607-0152.
Form Number(s): Automated Export System (AES).
Type of Request: Regular submission, Request for an Extension,
without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.
Number of Respondents: 16,768,118.
Average Hours per Response: 3 minutes per AES transaction.
Burden Hours: 838,406.
Needs and Uses: Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Chapter 9,
Section 301 authorizes the U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) to
collect, compile and publish trade data. Title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Part 30, known as the Foreign Trade Regulations
(FTR), contains the regulatory provisions for preparing and filing
Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System
(AES). The Census Bureau uses the AES or successor system as the
instrument for collecting export trade data from parties exporting
commodities from the United States. In addition to the collection of
data, the Census Bureau compiles these export data from the AES, and
these data are the basis for the official U.S. trade statistics on
exports of
[[Page 3103]]
commodities. These statistics are used to determine the balance of
international trade and are designated for use as a principal economic
indicator. The Census Bureau releases these statistics monthly
according to the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Press
Release Schedule.
These data are used in the development of U.S. government economic
and foreign trade policies, including export control purposes under
Title 50, U.S.C. The Bureau of Industry (BIS) and Security, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other enforcement agencies use
these data to detect and prevent the export of certain items by
unauthorized parties to unauthorized destinations or end users.
Additionally, the data enables U.S. businesses to develop practical
export marketing strategies as well as provide a means for the
assessment of the impact of exports on the domestic economy.
The Census Bureau requires mandatory filing of all export
information via the Automated Export System (AES). This requirement is
mandated through Public Law 107-228 of the Foreign Trade Relations Act
of 2003. This law authorizes the Secretary of Commerce with the
concurrences of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland
Security to require all persons who file export information according
to Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Chapter 9, to file such
information through the AES.
The clearance under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Number
0607-0152 covers the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) AESDirect
Record Formats and related documents, including the AES Letter of
Intent, ACE Exporter Account Application and Quick Reference Guide, AES
Certification Statements, and the ACE AESDirect User Guide. With this
submission, the Census Bureau is requesting continued clearance of the
AES program.
The AES is the primary instrument used for collecting export trade
data, which are used by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes.
Title 13, U.S.C., Chapter 9, Sections 301-307, mandates the collection
of these data. The regulatory provisions for the collection of these
data are contained in the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), Title 15,
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 30. The official export
statistics collected from these tools provide the basic component for
the compilation of the U.S. position on merchandise trade. These data
are an essential component of the monthly totals provided in the U.S.
International Trade in Goods and Services (FT-900) Press Release, a
principal federal economic indicator, and a primary component of the
Gross Domestic Product. The published export data enable the private
and public sectors to develop practical marketing strategies as well as
provide a means to assess the impact of exports on the domestic
economy. These data are used in the development of U.S. government
economic and foreign trade policies, including export control purposes
under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852. The
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), and other enforcement agencies use these data to
detect and prevent the export of certain items by unauthorized parties
to unauthorized destinations or end users. This information is noted in
the ACE AESDirect User Guide.
In order to publish accurate export trade statistics, the Census
Bureau is responsible for maintaining the FTR, which implements the
provisions for filing export information in the AES. In addition to the
publication of the FT-900, the Census Bureau releases data on imports
of steel mill products in advance of the regular monthly trade
statistics release. This exception to the normal procedure was
initially approved by the OMB in January 1999 and had been subsequently
extended annually through means of a separately submitted memo. This
exception permitted the public release of preliminary monthly data on
imports of steel under the provisions of the OMB's Statistical Policy
Directive No. 3 on the Compilation, Release and Evaluation of Principal
Federal Economic Indicators. With the revision to the AES Program in
2019, the Census Bureau eliminated the need for an annual approval from
OMB since it is included in the Information Collection Request (ICR).
The Census Bureau recognizes that FTR revisions should maintain our
ability to collect, compile, and deliver complete, accurate, and timely
trade statistics while also supporting export control and enforcement
efforts. To that end, on August 14, 2025, the Census Bureau issued a
Final Rule titled, ``Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR): Clarification of
Filing Requirements Regarding In-transit Shipments and other FTR
Provisions''. This final rule, clarified its regulations governing in-
transit shipments from foreign countries through the United States that
are subsequently exported to a foreign destination and revised several
regulatory sections, including definitions, filing requirements,
confidentiality protocols, penalty provisions, and voluntary self-
disclosure processes to ensure greater clarity, accuracy, and
consistency throughout the FTR.
Additionally, the Census Bureau intends to issue a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to propose the addition of a conditional
data element, country of origin for foreign origin commodities. The
Census Bureau will also address the concerns raised in previous OMB
Clearance Packages related to the collection of duplicative information
in a future rule.
The trade community recommended the State of Origin field be
removed because it is duplicative information that is captured in the
Address of Origin section. The Census Bureau acknowledges the
duplicative nature of the State of Origin data element and intends to
revisit.
The information collected via the AES conveys what is being
exported (description and commodity classification number); how much is
exported (quantity, shipping weight, and value); how it is exported
(method of transport, exporting carrier, and whether containerized);
who the parties to the transaction are (USPPI, authorized agent, and
intermediate and ultimate consignees); from where (state of origin and
port of export); to where (port of unloading and country of ultimate
destination); and when a commodity is exported (date of exportation).
Profile information on the USPPI and the authorized agent provides a
contact for verification of the information.
The data collected from the AES serves as the official record of
export transactions and is used by the U.S. Federal Government and the
private sector. The Federal Government uses every data element in the
AES. The mandatory filing requirement of the export information in AES
enables the Federal Government to produce more complete, accurate and
timely export statistics. The Census Bureau delegated authority to
enforce the FTR to the BIS's Office of Export Enforcement along with
the Department of Homeland Security's CBP and Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI). The mandatory use of the AES also facilitates the
enforcement by the BIS of the Export Administration Regulations for the
detection and prevention of exports of national security sensitive
commodities to unauthorized destinations; the enforcement by the CBP of
the U.S. Department of State's International Traffic in Arms
Regulations for the exports of defense articles; the validation by the
Census Bureau of the Kimberly Process Certificate for the exports of
rough diamonds; and
[[Page 3104]]
enforcement and compliance by other federal agencies (i.e.,
Environmental Protection Agency, Drug Enforcement Agency, etc.) of
regulations pertaining to export requirements.
Other Federal agencies use these data to develop the components of
the merchandise trade figures used in the calculations for the balance
of payments and Gross Domestic Product accounts to evaluate the effects
of the value of U.S. exports; and to prepare for and assist in trade
negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Collection of these data also eliminates the need to conduct additional
surveys for the collection of information because the AES shows the
relationship of the parties to the export transaction (as required by
the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The Bureau of Labor Statistics
also uses the AES data as a source for developing the export price
index and by the U.S. Department of Transportation for administering
the negotiation of reciprocal arrangements for transportation
facilities between the U.S. and other countries.
The International Trade Administration relies heavily on the
preliminary import statistics of steel mill products provided by the
Census Bureau. As a part of the Government's steel initiative, the
Department of Commerce was instructed by the Administration to monitor
steel imports. The early release of preliminary statistics on steel
mill imports allows the steel industry to identify trends and potential
shifts in trade patterns and take appropriate action. A variety of
parties, including government officials and the public with an interest
in imports of steel products continue to use this monitoring system
heavily. The FTR, Subpart F, addresses the general requirements for
filing import entries with CBP in the ACE in accordance with 19 CFR,
which is the source of the import data on steel mill products.
Export statistics collected from the AES aid private sector
companies, financial institutions, and transportation entities in
conducting market analysis and market penetration studies for the
development of new markets and market-share strategies. Port
authorities, steamship lines, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and air
transport associations use these data for measuring the volume and
effect of air or vessel shipments and the need for additional or new
types of facilities.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Chapter 9, Section
301.
This information collection request may be viewed at
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a>. Follow the instructions to view the Department of
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of
this notice on the following website <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB
Control Number 0607-0152.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2026-01432 Filed 1-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 26, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.