Spring is a time of change. Flowers bloom. Trees become green and full again. And the data user concordance files “exp-code.txt” and “imp-code.txt” are updated for the new year when the Census Bureau publishes January trade statistics. 

Are you ready to download concordance files? Not sure whether you need the files for data users or Automated Export System (AES) filers? Check out the following to learn the purposes of (and main differences between) data user and AES concordance files.

• Show trade data users how the import and export Harmonized System (HS) codes correlate to other classification schedules, specifically the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), End-Use, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Ag/USDA), North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and Advanced Technology Products (ATP/HITECH).
• Include most Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers plus broader pseudocodes that are used to publish summary data.
• Exclude Schedule B and HTS codes for export and import reporting only, which are suppressed at data release.
• Are updated for the new year in March when we publish January statistics, and again in September with July numbers.
• Can be found online at <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/reference/codes/index.html#concordance>.
• Cannot be used for AES filing.

• Help AES filers and third-party software vendors update their code tables so that only valid Schedule B and HTS codes and units of quantity for export shipments are reported and transmitted to AES in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
• Export files include all reportable Schedule B codes, their descriptions, and required units of quantity.
• Import files include all reportable HTS codes for export purposes, their descriptions, and required units of quantity, and exclude the HTS codes that are not valid for AES. These codes can be found at <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/concordance/hts-not-for-aes.txt>.
• Are updated for the new year in early January, and again in early July.
• Can be found online at <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/index.html#concordance>.

Keep in mind: By design, data user import concordance file “imp-code.txt” includes HTS codes that are invalid for export reporting, as well as other classification codes that are irrelevant to export reporting. For more details, the associated structure file(s) are available at <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/reference/codes/index.html#concordance>.

To ensure valid export reporting, AES filers, third-party platforms, and in-house systems connecting to AES-ACE must use the latest AES concordance files or tables available at  <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/#concordance>.

For more information about U.S. export or import data and detailed trade statistics, visit the USA Trade Online website, email the Macro Analysis Branch at eid.international.trade.data@census.gov, or call 1-800-549-0595, Option 4.

Would you like to receive AES broadcast messages when the AES concordance files are updated with new Schedule B or HTS numbers? Sign up for email updates at <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/index.html#broadcasts>.

If you have questions about the concordance files or need export classification assistance, email the Micro Analysis Branch at <eid.scheduleb@census.gov> or call 1-800-549-0595, Option 2.