January 15th, 2009

INDUSTRY ALERT - AES penalty guidelines published

Beginning February 1st, 2009, US Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) will begin enforcing the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Census Bureau rules requiring exporters, forwarders or their agents to electronically file export declarations before cargo is loaded onto any international conveyance. The new foreign trade rules increase the maximum civil fine for: failure to file, late and incomplete filing or submitting false information to $10,000 per violation. The rules also include provisions for ocean, air, rail and truck carriers prohibiting the transport of cargo that has not been declared through AES.

Furthermore there are now CRIMINAL ramifications per § 30.71 of the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), anyone who knowingly fails to file or knowingly submits false or misleading export information through the AES, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, for each violation.

PRECISION Global Trade Management has integrated capabilities to automate the entire AES process and alleviate the concern associated with these new fines and penalties. Contact us today for additional information.