Foreign Trade Database System

Part of the Commercial Fisheries Data System. ST maintains a database of U.S. foreign trade in fishery products from 1975 to the present. ST purchases the data from the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau. Census is responsible for compiling the information submitted by importers and exporters to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The data are normally scheduled for release to the public 43 days after the close of the statistical month.

Importers and exporters submit their transactions to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection using the international Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS). The HS is the system for classifying goods in international trade which has been developed under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO), located in Brussels. The WCO is an international organization consisting of representatives of about 161 countries. The U.S. is represented in the WCO by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. The International Trade Commission maintains the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States used by importers to classify their goods. Exporters use the Schedule B maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Provide monthly data on foreign trade in fishery products. The Division provides authoritative advice, coordination and guidance on matters related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of biological, economic, market and sociological statistics by NMFS and state agencies. Administer surveys used to estimate recreational landings.