CENSUS URGES PROPER REPORTING IN U.S./PUERTO RICO TRADE

CENSUS URGES PROPER REPORTING IN U.S./PUERTO RICO TRADE    The Economics and Statistics Administration of the U.S. Census Bureau has sent a circular letter to the trade community reminding shippers and carriers of their obligation to file either a Shipper’s Export Declaration or Automated Export Systems records for freight moving between the United States and Puerto Rico.
      The letter was sent as a reminder to the parties to comply with a final rule issued this summer, said Jerry Greenwell of the Census Bureau’s foreign trade division.
   In cases where a forwarder or other agent is filing export information on behalf of the shipper with the ocean carrier, that filing party is required to obtain power of attorney or written authorization from the principal party of interest (the shipper), the Census Bureau said.
   The Bureau’s Foreign Trade Statistics regulations require ocean carriers to file their SED’s and outward cargo manifests with the U.S. Customs Service at the port of arrival in Puerto Rico rather than at the U.S. port of departure.    Air carriers are required to file complete manifests as opposed to manifesting only cargo for which SEDs are either not required or not available.'
   Air manifests for all cargo exempt from SED requirements must include a summary line of information providing the total weight, in kilograms.