Annex V.A Institutional arrangements and the Automated Export System (AES): experience of the United States of America
5.A.1. Automated Export System of the United States of America. The Automated Export System (AES) of theUnited States is the central point through which export shipment data required by multiple Government agencies is filed electronically, using the efficiencies of electronic data interchange. Export information is collected electronically from the export trade community and edited immediately, with errors being detected and corrected at the time of filing. The editing and validation processes of the AES reflect the requirements of various partnering Government agencies to ensure complete, timely and accurate reporting of export information. As the AES evolves, additional edits and validations are added to the system so as to continuously improve the quality of export data submitted.
5.A.2. Entities that participate in the Automated Export System. The AES is a joint venture of the Foreign Trade Division of the United States Census Bureau, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Commerce (DOC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of State, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Department of the Treasury, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Office of Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the export trade community. The AES mainframe resides with the CBP.
5.A.3. In order to facilitate electronic filing of export information to the AES, the AESDirect system was developed by the United States Census Bureau through an outside contractor. AESDirect, which is an internet based system, became operational on 23 September 1999 at www.aesdirect.gov. It eliminates the need for export filers to establish direct telecommunications with CBP and provides an interactive interface through which filers submit the required export information about their shipments. AESDirect also includes the edits and validations incorporated in the AES, and evolves as new requirements are included in the AES. Partnering Government agencies wanting to add additional edits and validations to the AES and AESDirect system contact the Census Bureau and prepare the respective requirements, which are then forwarded by the Census Bureau to the CBP AES Developers and the AESDirect contractor for inclusion in the two systems.
5.A.4. The AES also serves as a conduit through which required export information reaches appropriate Government agencies. The United States Census Bureau extracts AES data in order to compile and publish export trade statistics, while AES validates dual-use shipments against licences approved by the Bureau of Industry and Trade Security and forwards that information to the agency. Similarly, the Directorate of Defense Controls utilizes the AES partnership agency interface to validate outbound munitions shipments against previously approved licences and transmits the data to the agency. Partnering agencies will continue to work in cooperation as the AES goes through future phases.