An Exporter is a party that ships goods out of the United States to a foreign destination. For U.S. export-control and statistical purposes, the exporter is generally the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) — the entity in the U.S. that receives the primary benefit (monetary or otherwise) from the export transaction.
Exporters must file Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the Automated Export System (AES) when the shipment:
- Has a single Schedule B value over $2,500 per commodity, or
- Requires an export license (regardless of value), or
- Is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or
- Is destined for certain restricted countries
The EEI filing collects key data — commodity description, Schedule B classification, value, foreign principal party in interest (FPPI), end user, and ultimate destination — and feeds the Census Bureau's official U.S. export statistics.
Exporters also have responsibilities under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the Department of State. Depending on the commodity, destination, and end use/user, an export license may be required.
In international sales contracts, the exporter's responsibilities vary by Incoterms rule. Under EXW, the exporter has minimal responsibility — the buyer arranges export clearance — but for nearly every other rule, the exporter handles export formalities, including the EEI filing.