Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR): Clarification on Uses of Electronic Export Information

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) issues this final rule amending the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) to reflect changes related to the implementation of the International Trade Data System (ITDS) and subsequent changes to access the Electronic Export Information (EEI). The ITDS was established to eliminate redundant information requirements, efficiently regulate the flow of commerce, and to effectively enforce laws and regulations relating to international trade by establishing a single portal system for the collection and distribution of standard electronic import and export data required by all participating federal agencies. The Automated Export System (AES), which is a part of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), will include export information collected under other federal agencies' authority, which is subject to those agencies' disclosure mandates. This rule clarifies the confidentiality provisions of the EEI and facilitates the legitimate sharing of export data consistent with the goals for the ITDS. On August 22, 2014, the Census Bureau published this rule on an interim final basis. The Census Bureau is finalizing this rule without change.