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) is 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. Under the current regulations, the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or U.S. authorized agent residing or having an office located in the United States is required to enter an Employer Identification Number (EIN), SSN, or Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) when reporting export transactions in the AES or AESDirect. An SSN is used as an identification number principally by filers who are individuals. DUNS are available only to business entities, and EINs are available to both businesses and individuals.

Agency Contact: William G. Bostic, Jr., Chief, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 6K032, Washington, DC 20233-6700; by telephone at (301) 763-2255; by fax at (301) 763-6638; or by e-mail: william.g.bostic.jr@census.gov.