United States: Exporting products

In this page: Customs procedures for export in the United States | Organize a transportation of goods to and from the United States

Customs procedures for export in the United States

Customs Procedures

Restrictions

« Export permission » and « Export approval » are necessary but they only concern goods internationally recognized as being subject to such restrictions (weapons, nuclear energy, missiles, etc.).

Export Taxes

No.

Export Clearance

It is necessary to comply with the specific procedures determined in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Export.gov provides tools, assistance, and expert knowledge to help your company grow in the global marketplace.
Depending on the good or service, you may need a license or permit to export it from the U.S. as a part of your business. Most items exported to a foreign buyer will not require an export license. However, all items are subject to export control laws and regulations. To avoid any problems, follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) exporting requirements or contact the local port of entry used to export your goods.

It is imperative that the appropriate export documentation, thoroughly and accurately completed, accompany all export shipments. Failure to do so can result in tax payments, detention or seizure of shipments, miss-shipments, penalties, government audits, and adverse publicity. The documents described below are required for exports

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Electronic Export Information

The Electronic Export Information (EEI) needs to be filed when the value of the commodity classified under each individual Schedule B number is over $2,500 or if a validated export license is required to export the commodity. The exporter is responsible for preparing the EEI and the carrier files it with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the AES or AES Direct. Exporters are to maintain records of all exports for a period of five years from the date of export or last export or re-export.

Necessary Declaration

Entering merchandise is a two-part process consisting of: (1) filing the documents necessary to determine whether merchandise may be released from Customs custody, and (2) filing the documents that contain information for duty assessment and statistical purposes. Both of these processes can be accomplished electronically via the Automated Broker Interface program of the Automated Commercial Systems.

Invoices
Each package is marked and numbered so it can easily be identified against the invoice.
A detailed description of the merchandise in each package is on the invoice.
The country of origin is clearly marked.
Any special laws that apply are complied with. Merchandise such as food, drugs, cosmetics, alcohol and so on will usually fall into this category.

Controlling the Quality of the Products

Quality Control Organizations: American Society for Quality

Organize a transportation of goods to and from the United States

Main Useful Means of Transport: According to the latest data provide by Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2018 the U.S. transportation system moved a daily average of about 51.0 million tons of freight valued at more than $51.8 billion. Water is the leading transportation mode for U.S.-international freight trade. Ships moved 41.9 percent of the value (nearly $1.8 trillion) and 70.9 percent of the weight (1.6 billion tons) in 2018. Air freight, which accounted for 0.3 percent by weight, was the second largest mover of goods by value (27.5 percent), accounting for $1.16 trillion. Truck moved 10.4 percent of total freight and 18.4 percent of total value. Trucking was the primary mover from and to Canada and Mexico, followed by rail. Together, rail and pipeline accounted for about 6.0 percent of the total value and 17.3 percent of the total weight of U.S.-international freight trade. The top 25 U.S.-international freight gateways, measured by value of shipments in 2017, consist of 10 water ports, 5 land-border crossings, and 10 air gateways.

All coasts of the country have advanced, highly computerised ports, automated for a fast distribution of the goods (especially in containers); some of them offer a direct connection towards waterways. The Port of Los Angeles is the leading U.S.-international freight gateway (water), moving $214.8 billion in cargo.

After deregulation in the 1980s, the railway freight market has rapidly expanded and increased more than 40%. Regional oil shipments by rail increased, on average, from less than 1 percent of all regional shipments in 2010 to over 7 percent in 2019.

By Sea

Ports: Port of Charleston
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port of Los Angeles
Port of Miami
Port of Boston
American Association of Port Authorities
Port of San Francisco
Port of Seattle
Port of Tacoma
Transport Professionals: Packing Store
Air 7 Seas
Cargo World Network
Government Transport Organisations: U.S. Department of Transportation: Maritime Administration

By Air

Airports: List of U.S Airports
Transport Professionals: List of Air Transport professionals
Government Transport Organisations: Federal Aviation Administration

By Road

Transport Professionals: UPS
DHL
Fedex
Government Transport Organisations: U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration

By Rail

Transport Professionals: The National Railroad Passenger Corporation
DHL
Fedex
UPS
Online list of Professional Carriers
Government Transport Organisations: Federal Railroad Administration

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