AESDIRECT WEBLINK RECEIVES FIRST EXPORT DATA TRANSMISSIONS

AESDIRECT WEBLINK RECEIVES FIRST EXPORT DATA TRANSMISSIONS    The U.S. Census Bureau received its first transmission of export data to AESDirect via its new free Internet link Thursday.
   For several years, forwarders could only file export commodity and transport data electronically via the Automated Export System, developed by U.S. Customs and Census. In October, Census introduced AESDirect, its Internet link. The newly developed AESWebLink allows forwarders without mainframe-style electronic data interchange systems to connect with AESDirect. WebLink was developed by Flagship Customs Services, the contracted developer of AESDirect.
   The first transmission of export data to AESDirect's WebLink was sent Thursday by Nordstrom Freighting Corp., using Blasdel and Co.'s TransExport, a Windows-based software.
   Blasdel and Co. is one of two companies that have already certified their Internet applications as AES WebLink compliant. An additional 20 companies have applied to have their systems certified.
   TransExport can take downloaded mainframe data or locally stored modes to assemble shipments to eliminate the double-keying of information and reduce possibility of error.
   “WebLink is a good first step in efficient trade/government collaboration in sharing the effort of informed compliance between computers,” said Hugo G. Blasdel, vice president of development. Blasdel was a member of the AES Trade Resource Group, and his company was an early participant in AERP.