Rule changes proposed by the Census Bureau would severely limit post-departure electronic export declarations. Only a limited number of agricultural and bulk commodities would be eligible.
The bureau is seeking comments on changes to its export rules that will effectively eliminate "Option 4" filing for companies that export finished goods. The change reduces the post-departure reporting deadline to five days from 10. The proposal also includes several pages of technical changes to the Foreign Trade Rules. The deadline for comments is March 22.
"Nobody is going to be grandfathered," said William Bostic, assistant director for economic programs at Census's foreign trade division. Companies that now have post-departure privileges will have to reapply after the new rules take effect.
