In a Federal Register Notice (FRN) published on October 31, 2024, the Bureau of the Census (Census) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to expand which parties could qualify to be the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) for “in-transit shipments from foreign countries through the United States that are subsequently exported to a foreign destination.”

Previously, goods that entered the United States then stored in a warehouse, storage facility, or Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) before being exported would allow the customs broker to be the USPPI. However, due to the extended period of time that these goods can be stored, there might be additional parties that have “knowledge and control” of the goods. Census is proposing that in these scenarios, the warehouse, storage facility, or FTZ be “considered” the USPPI.

In situations where the customs broker is the USPPI, Census would require them “to obtain consent from its client to share information from the import entry that supports the preparation and filing of the EEI [Electronic Export Information] in the AES [Automated Export System].”

Additionally, Census would require the entry number on the EEI “when foreign origin goods are entered into the United States for consumption or warehousing, and then stored in a warehouse or storage facility or admitted into an FTZ before being exported.” This information would provide the agency with a link to the Country of Origin data for statistical purposes.

Comments on this proposed rule are being accepted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal or through direct emails to gtmd.ftrnotices@census.gov until December 30, 2024.

The published FRN can be found here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-24482