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Longitudinal Foreign Trade Transactions Database
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The Longitudinal Foreign Trade Transactions Database (LFTTD) contains transaction level data on exports (for all shipments above $2,500). It is collected by the U.S. Census Bureau via the Shippers Export Declaration form (currently U.S. Department of Commerce Form 7525-V). The Shippers Export Declaration (SED) contains EIN (Employer Identification Number) of the firm that ships the exports, detailed 10-digit Harmonized System Product Code, value, quantity, export destination, date of the transaction, port, mode of transport, and whether the transaction is between related parties. The export transactions to Canada require special handling as data for exports to Canada is not collected through the SED; however, Canada collects import transaction from the U.S. which can be alternatively used as export transaction to Canada.
The transaction level data on imports (for all import shipments above $2,000 and $250 for certain quota items) is collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection via import declaration form (U.S. Customs Forms 7501 and 7533). The Customs forms contain EIN, detailed 10-digit Harmonized System product code, value, quantity, country of origin, date of the transaction, port, mode of transport, and whether the transaction is between related parties.
In addition, the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) dataset is merged to construct firm level measures of employment and industrial activity and to exploit the longitudinal nature of the LBD to examine firm birth and death rates. The EIN and name information (also called the Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL)) from the Census Bureau Business Register is used to match the firms to the import and export transaction data. The SSEL also contains information on the firm or enterprise that owns the entity.
Use of this data requires approval from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Census Bureau will coordinate all additional necessary reviews.
Identification and Summary
- LFTTD
The Longitudinal Foreign Trade Transactions Database (LFTTD) contains transaction level data on exports (for all shipments above $2,500). It is collected by the U.S. Census Bureau via the Shippers Export Declaration form (currently U.S. Department of Commerce Form 7525-V). The Shippers Export Declaration (SED) contains EIN (Employer Identification Number) of the firm that ships the exports, detailed 10-digit Harmonized System Product Code, value, quantity, export destination, date of the transaction, port, mode of transport, and whether the transaction is between related parties. The export transactions to Canada require special handling as data for exports to Canada is not collected through the SED; however, Canada collects import transaction from the U.S. which can be alternatively used as export transaction to Canada.
The transaction level data on imports (for all import shipments above $2,000 and $250 for certain quota items) is collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection via import declaration form (U.S. Customs Forms 7501 and 7533). The Customs forms contain EIN, detailed 10-digit Harmonized System product code, value, quantity, country of origin, date of the transaction, port, mode of transport, and whether the transaction is between related parties.
In addition, the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) dataset is merged to construct firm level measures of employment and industrial activity and to exploit the longitudinal nature of the LBD to examine firm birth and death rates. The EIN and name information (also called the Standard Statistical Establishment List (SSEL)) from the Census Bureau Business Register is used to match the firms to the import and export transaction data. The SSEL also contains information on the firm or enterprise that owns the entity.
Use of this data requires approval from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Census Bureau will coordinate all additional necessary reviews.