Tips on How to Resolve AES Fatal Errors

When a shipment is filed to the AES, a system response message is generated and indicates whether the shipment has been accepted or rejected.  If the shipment is accepted, the AES filer receives an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) as confirmation.  However, if the shipment is rejected, a Fatal Error notification is received. 

To help you resolve AES Fatal Errors, here are some tips on how to correct the most frequent errors that were generated in AES for this month.

Fatal Error Response Code:  173

Narrative: Country of Ultimate Destination Outdated

Reason: The Country of Ultimate Destination is not an active country code in AES.

Resolution: The Country of Ultimate Destination Code must be an active ISO country code listed in the 'Appendix C, ISO Country Codes'.

Verify the Country of Ultimate Destination Code and the Estimated Date of Export, correct the shipment and resubmit.

Fatal Error Response Code:  632

Narrative: 2nd Unit of Measure Code, Schedule B/HTS Mismatch

Reason: The Unit of Measure (2) reported does not match the Unit of Measure (2) required for the Schedule B/HTS Number reported.

Resolution: The Unit of Measure (2) must match exactly the Unit of Measure (2) required for the Schedule B/HTS reported.  See ‘Appendix K – Units of Measure Codes’. 

Verify the Unit of Measure (2) required for the particular Schedule B/HTS Number, correct the shipment and resubmit.

For a complete list of Fatal Error Response Codes, their reasons, and resolutions, see Appendix A – Commodity Filing Response Messages.

It is important that AES filers correct Fatal Errors as soon as they are received in order to comply with the Foreign Trade Regulations.  These errors must be corrected prior to export for shipments filed predeparture and as soon as possible for shipments filed postdeparture but not later than five calendar days after departure.

For further information or questions, contact the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Collection Branch.

Telephone: (800) 549-0595, select option 1 for AES

Email: askaes@census.gov

Online: www.census.gov/trade

Blog: www.census.gov/globalreach