Choose your destination country above to calculate international shipping costs for goods shipped from the USA using LCL freight. This process takes just minutes and requires no assistance. 

Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) for shipping goods from the USA

The U.S. Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires that all cargo shipped from the U.S. be declared using the Shipper's Export Declaration on the ACE secure data portal. This applies to both commercial goods and personal items.

To comply, carriers follow the "NO DOCS - NO LOAD" rule. This means all necessary documents, including the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) and the ACE Internal Transaction Number (ITN), must be submitted at least 72 hours before the cargo is released for international shipping.

Without an ITN (unless exempt), sea freight cannot be shipped and may face delays or penalties for missing paperwork.

Exceptions to filing a SED for international shipping from the U.S.

There are some cases where you don't need to fill out the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED). The most common situations are:

1. If you're shipping goods worth less than $2,500 from the USA.
2. When it's U.S. domestic sea freight, like sending stuff from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii.

You can easily handle the SED (Shipper's Export Declaration) with this online freight calculator. When you're getting a quote or booking your shipment, you have a few options:

• You can ask us to fill out the SED in ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) for you and submit the ITN (Internal Transaction Number) to the carrier for your international shipment. The ITN will be included in your ocean freight bill of lading.
• If your shipment is worth less than $2,500 and you choose this option, you won’t need to file the SED. In that case, you’ll see this note on your bill of lading: "NOEEI SECT 30.37(a)."
• If your situation is different, please email us with your specific needs or requirements for international shipping. 

Just a quick note: if you want us to fill out the SED for you, provide your EIN or a copy of the shipper's foreign passport with a clear photo and passport number. ACE doesn't accept U.S. passports or Social Security Numbers, as CBP stopped accepting them to protect personal info when shipping cargo abroad.

If you're a U.S. citizen and don’t have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), there's no need to stress. You can quickly get your EIN for international cargo transportation right on the IRS website, and it won’t take much time at all. It’s completely safe and doesn’t come with any extra commitments. Just follow this link to find out how easy it is to get the EIN for shipping stuff from the USA overseas.