Are you aware of the procedures if the Automated Export System (AES) or Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) AESDirect program is down? To help clarify the process during an unscheduled outage, we created the following scenario to highlight the steps involved:

While attempting to file his shipment in ACE AESDirect, Mike noticed an issue with the system. He wasn’t able to transmit his Electronic Export Information (EEI). Instead, he needs to wait for guidance from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding system status and the possible use of the AES Downtime Policy.

The AES Downtime Policy provides uniform procedures when the AES or the ACE AESDirect program is unavailable for transmission. During this time, the Census Bureau and CBP will work together to determine the cause and resolution for the problem. If the issue is not fixed within two hours, the Census Bureau and CBP will evaluate and determine if the use of the AES Downtime Policy is appropriate. If the AES Downtime Policy is jointly approved, Mike will be notified through a nationwide email broadcast.

Automated Export System Unscheduled Outage

The outage is effective immediately.

AES filers may submit shipments under the AES Downtime Policy. State Department licensable shipments cannot be exported under the AES Downtime Policy and must be held until the connection is restored and an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) is received. Once connection is brought back on-line after the outage, all shipments that were exported under the AES Downtime Policy must be filed along with any new AES transactions.

If you use the AES Downtime Policy for export, please contact the port from which you will be exporting. In lieu of the AES Proof of Filing citation, please use the AES Downtime citation, which consists of the phrase AESDOWN, your individual company’s Filer ID, followed by the date.

For example: AESDOWN 123456789 09/01/2017

Please see the CBP website for further information on the AES Downtime Policy: www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/aes-downtime-guidelines

The broadcast message will include the AES Downtime Citation, a statement used in place of the AES Proof of Filing Citation to move cargo. However, it can only be used once the AES Downtime Policy has been enacted by the Census Bureau and CBP and the nationwide email broadcast has been issued.

AESDOWN	FILER ID	DATE OF EXPORT
AESDOWN	123456789	09/01/2017

As established in the Foreign Trade Regulations 30.7 (b), Mike must include the AES Downtime Citation on either the bill of lading, air waybill or other commercial loading documents. Moreover, Mike will not be able to use the AES Downtime Citation for U.S. State Department licensable shipments.

After receiving the broadcast message from the Census Bureau, Mike will follow the instructions and use the approved AES Downtime Citation to move his cargo. However, he is not done yet. Mike must keep a log of all shipments exported while the AES Downtime Policy is in effect. Once the issue has been resolved, another nationwide email broadcast will be sent indicating that the AES Downtime Policy is deactivated and the AES or ACE AESDirect is operational.

AES Downtime Policy Has Been Deactivated

The AES Downtime Policy has been deactivated and the AES is now operational.

Please file all Electronic Export Information (EEI) for shipments that were exported under the AES Downtime Policy, along with any new AES transactions, to receive an Internal Transaction Number (ITN).

Due to the high volume of shipments that are being processed at this time, please be patient in obtaining an AES response message. Do not submit shipments more than once.

At this time, Mike is required to transmit the shipments that were moved during downtime to AES for an Internal Transaction Number (ITN). Mike should retain all documentation pertaining to the shipments that were moved, including a copy of the broadcast message issued at that time, along with the ITNs.

If you have questions about the AES Downtime Policy, please contact the Data Collection Branch at 1-800-549-0595, using option 1 or email <askaes@census.gov>. If you are not receiving the email broadcast messages, you can subscribe by clicking the Get Email Updates button on our website.

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Page Last Revised - December 16, 2021

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