Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR): Eliminate the Social Security Number (SSN) as an Identification Number in the Automated Export System (AES)

The U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) issues this final rule amending the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) to eliminate the requirement to report a Social Security Number (SSN) as an identification number when registering to file and filing electronic export information in the Automated Export System (AES) or AESDirect. If the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or the U.S. authorized agent residing in or having an office in the United States does not have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the USPPI or the U.S. authorized agent must obtain an EIN through the Web site of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Former SSN filers who want to use a Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS) rather than an EIN for identification purposes, must first obtain an EIN from the IRS, and apply to Dun & Bradstreet for a DUNS. This final rule is being implemented to ensure that a USPPI's or authorized agent's SSN is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Privacy Act), title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), section 552a. On August 5, 2009, this final rule was published as an interim final rule; the Census Bureau is finalizing this rule without change.