CSMS Message: 92-000574

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : ROBERT WOODS

SUBJECT : SCHEDULE-D

DATE : 10/22/92

OCTOBER 8, 1992
3282011

CATEGORY: STA ENT-1-CO:TO:E:CS RMW

TO : REGIONAL DIRECTORS (COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS), DISTRICT,
AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS OF CUSTOMS

FROM : ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS

RE : USE OF HTSUS SCHEDULE D CENSUS SUBPORT CODES FOR
STATISTICAL REPORTING

PASS TO : ALL CUSTOMS PERSONNEL, BROKERS, FILERS AND OTHER
INTERESTED PARTIES

IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT SOME CUSTOMS FIELD OFFICES ARE
TRANSMITTING IMPORT AND EXPORT STATISTICAL DOCUMENTS TO THE
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS (CENSUS) WHICH CONTAIN INCORRECT PORT CODE
DESIGNATIONS. SPECIFICALLY, THE INCORRECT PORT OF UNLADING AND
PORT OF ENTRY ARE BEING USED ON IMPORT DOCUMENTS WHILE THE
INCORRECT PORT OF EXPORT IS BEING SHOWN ON EXPORT DOCUMENTS.
THIS REPORTING OF INCORRECT PORTS APPEARS TO BE MOST PREVALENT IN
THOSE INSTANCES WHERE EITHER THE IMPORT OR EXPORT DOCUMENTS ARE
FILED AT A CUSTOMS SUBPORT AND SUBSEQUENTLY PROCESSED AT THE
DISTRICT OFFICE. THE RESULT, IN MANY CASES, IS THAT THE
PARTICULAR IMPORT OR EXPORT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PORT CODE OF THE
DISTRICT OFFICE RATHER THAN TO THE CODE OF THE SUBPORT WHERE THE
ACTIVITY ACTUALLY OCCURRED. THIS CAN RESULT IN CENSUS PROVIDING
ERRONEOUS STATISTICAL DATA IN THEIR VARIOUS PUBLISHED REPORTS.

WITH REGARD TO THE REPORTING OF PORT CODES FOR IMPORTS, THE
SUBPORT CODES SHOULD BE USED WHEN THEY MORE PRECISELY IDENTIFY
THE U.S. PORT OF UNLADING. BOTH CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE #099 3550-061
(INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF CF 7501) AND CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE
#3550-29 (CUSTOMS FORM 3461, ENTRY/IMMEDIATE DELIVERY;
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION), REQUIRE THAT THE FOUR DIGIT
NUMERIC SCHEDULE D CODE WHICH IDENTIFIES THE U.S. PORT AT WHICH
THE MERCHANDISE WAS UNLADEN FROM THE IMPORTING CARRIER BE
REPORTED IN THE APPROPRIATE BLOCK ON EACH FORM. IN ADDITION, THE
APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE D CODE OF THE SUBPORT SHOULD BE USED WHEN
THAT IS THE LOCATION WHERE THE MERCHANDISE WAS ENTERED UNDER AN
ENTRY OR RELEASED UNDER AN IMMEDIATE DELIVERY PERMIT.

LIKEWISE FOR EXPORTS, THE APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE D CODE OF THE
SUBPORT SHOULD BE REPORTED IN BLOCK 11 (PORT OF EXPORT) OF THE
SHIPPER'S EXPORT DECLARATION (SED) WHEN, IN THE CASE OF
EXPORTATION BY VESSEL OR AIR, IT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE
LOCATION WHERE THE MERCHANDISE IS LADEN ON THE VESSEL THAT WILL
CARRY THE MERCHANDISE EITHER TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR TO A NON-
FOREIGN AREA OF ULTIMATE DESTINATION. IN THE CASE OF
EXPORTATIONS TRANSPORTED BY LAND SURFACE CARRIER, THE PORT OF

EXPORTATION IS THE LOCATION WHERE THE MERCHANDISE CROSSES THE
BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES INTO FOREIGN TERRITORY. FOR
STATISTICAL PURPOSES, THE DEFINITION OF PORT OF EXPORT IS
CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (COMMERCE) FOREIGN TRADE
REGULATIONS (15 CFR 30.20(C)). WHEN COMPLETING THE APPROPRIATE
COMMERCE/BUREAU OF CENSUS FOREIGN TRADE DIVISION (FTD)
TRANSMITTAL FORMS, CUSTOMS OFFICERS SHOULD TAKE CARE TO ENSURE
THAT THE PROPER PORT OF EXPORT IS REPORTED IN BLOCK 2 AND 3 OF
THESE FORMS.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT FILERS OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT
DOCUMENTS EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE IN THE ACCURATE COMPLETION OF
THESE FORMS. LIKEWISE, CUSTOMS OFFICERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROCESSING THESE STATISTICAL DOCUMENTS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREON IS ACCURATE BEFORE TRANSMITTING THE
DATA TO CENSUS.

FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE
OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS, COLLECTIONS/STATISTICS BRANCH AT
(202) 927-0801, 927-0418, OR 927-0051.

WILLIAM J. LUEBKERT