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Foreign Trade Data - Export
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The Foreign Trade Exports data (EXP) contains transactions level data on the exports of the universe of firms operating in the U.S. that engage in merchandise export to a foreign destination. The export data are the universe of trade transactions data collected by the Customs Bureau during the exportation process, containing value, date, country of origin or destination, quantity, HS code, and other variables. For details, see an example of the shipper’s export declaration and the electronic export information.
Exports measure the total physical movement of merchandise out of the United States to foreign countries whether such merchandise is exported from within the U.S. Customs territory or from a U.S. Customs bonded warehouse or a U.S. Foreign Trade Zone.
The Export data includes goods that are shipped within the same U.S. customs union. Researchers should be aware that the IMP and EXP are inputs to the LFTTD and do not contain any information that is not included in the LFTTD. If researchers propose to request the IMP and/or EXP in addition to the LFTTD, they should provide clear justification for the use of the file(s).
Detailed Methodology
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It is compiled from copies of Shipper's Export Declarations (SEDs) and SED data from qualified exporters, forwarders, or carriers. Copies of SED's are required to be filed with Customs officials at the port of export. The SED is unique among Census Bureau forms since it is not sent to respondents soliciting responses as in the case of surveys. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially collects the SED at the port of export and subsequently transmits it to the Census Bureau. Each SED represents a shipment of one or more kinds of merchandise from one exporter to one foreign importer on a single carrier. Filing the SED is mandatory under Chapter 9, Title 13, United States Code. Qualified exporters, forwarders, or carriers submit SED data by automated means directly to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The United States is substituting Canadian import statistics for U.S. exports to Canada in accordance with a 1987 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Census Bureau, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canadian Customs, and Statistics Canada. Similarly, under this Memorandum of Understanding, Canada is substituting U.S. import statistics for Canadian exports to the United States. This data exchange includes only U.S. exports destined for Canada and does not include shipments destined for third countries by routes passing through Canada or shipments of certain grains and oilseeds to Canada for storage prior to exportation to a third country. These shipments are reported on and compiled from SED's.
Department of Defense Military Assistance Program Grant-Aid shipments being transported as Department of Defense cargo are reported directly to the U.S. Census Bureau by the Department of Defense.