Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS # 59607941 - NOTICE: “Forwarding Agent” Will be Changing to “Authorized Agent” Across the AESTIR and AESDirect Portal

Summary of the Change:

At the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the terms “Forwarding Agent” and “FWRD AGT” found in the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) commodity record format, appendices (i.e., commodity filing response messages, AES acronyms and definitions) and the AESDirect portal will be replaced with the term “Authorized Agent” and “AUTH AGT,” consistent with 15 CFR 30.6(b)(1). 

This change will be effective April 1, 2024.

Background:

Authorized Agent is the term used in the Foreign Trade Regulations to identify the individual or legal entity physically located in or otherwise under the jurisdiction of the United States that has obtained power of attorney or written authorization from a U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or Foreign Principal Party in Interest (FPPI) to act on its behalf and to complete and file the Electronic Export Information (EEI).  

When the Filer ID in the header and trailer records of the AES commodity format is an Authorized Agent, the Census Bureau relies on the details in the party records/section (N01-N03 records) of the Authorized Agent for verification purposes. Without that level of detail, the Filer ID by itself does not suffice for verification purposes. 

The trade community has informed the Census Bureau that the term Forwarding Agent, currently in the party record/section and the appendices, is misleading.  In most cases, the Forwarding Agent and the Authorized Agent are the same company.  However, when there are scenarios when the Authorized Agent files the EEI and a Forwarding Agent facilitates the movement of the export of that same shipment, the Census Bureau must ensure that the Authorized Agent information is collected in the party record for verification purposes.  The Census Bureau has had multiple occasions where the Forwarding Agent in the N01-N03 party records was not able to verify the data because they were not the filer.  The Forwarding Agent in these filings only facilitated the export but did not prepare and file the EEI in AES. The same situation also applies when a USPPI files the EEI on their own behalf.

Please contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-549-0595, Option 3 if you have any questions.