Tips on How to Resolve AES Fatal Errors

December 19, 2017

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:  168

Narrative:      Transportation Reference Number Ineligible

Reason:          The Transportation Reference Number reported is ineligible.  

Resolution: The Transportation Reference Number cannot be reported as “UNKNOWN” or have any value not found on the standard keyboard.

Verify the Transportation Reference Number, correct the shipment and resubmit.

Fatal Error Response Code:  336

Narrative:      Ultimate Consignee State Cannot be Reported

Reason:          The Country of Destination reported does not allow a State Code. 

Resolution: Report a State Code only if the Country of Destination is the United States or Mexico. 

Verify the Ultimate Consignee Country Code and State Code, 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: blogs.census.gov/globalreach