Census Amends FTR to Comply with Single Window Executive Order
The Census Bureau is amending the Foreign Trade Regulations to increase access and sharing of Automated Export System information among federal agencies. The interim final rule clarifies confidentiality requirements involving Electronic Export Information, and aims to support President Barack Obama’s February executive order, which mandated completion of the International Trade Data System by 2016 (see 14021928). The interim final rule is effective Aug. 22, but comments will be accepted through Oct. 21.
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Specifically, the interim final rule amends Section 30.60 of the Foreign Trade Regulations (here) to allow Census to provide Electronic Export Information to the U.S. Principal Party in Interest or an authorized agent for compliance and audit purposes. However, the USPPI, authorized agent, or representative of the USPPI is prohibited from disclosing the EEI for “non-official” purposes. Census said it is waiving a period of notice and comment before implementing this interim final rule because that “may delay exports and make export control more difficult, both of which are contrary to the public interest.” The interim final rule also does not impose additional requirements on the trade community, so a delayed effective date is unnecessary, Census said.
(Federal Register 08/22/14)