Is a shipper's letter of instruction required?

The regulations require written authorization, or a power of attorney, for a forwarder to file EEI for the exporter; an SLI is the usual way to give it. In routed exports the exporter isn't required to give one to the foreign buyer's agent.

Who fills out the shipper's letter of instruction?

The exporter — the US principal party in interest — completes it with the shipment details and signs the authorization, then gives it to the forwarder that will file the EEI.

Who is liable for errors in EEI filed from an SLI?

The filer is responsible for complete, accurate and timely EEI, except where it can show it reasonably relied on information from others — such as the exporter's SLI.

Term

Shipper's letter of instruction (SLI)

A shipper's letter of instruction (SLI) is the document a US exporter gives its freight forwarder with the shipment details and the authority to file the Electronic Export Information in AES on its behalf. The regulations call it written authorization: it should say the agent may act as the exporter's true and lawful agent.

Also called SLI, shipper's letter of instructions, written authorization to file EEI, export power of attorney, letter of instructionApplies in USUpdated 14 October 2026

What it does

Under 15 CFR 30.3, the US principal party in interest (USPPI) — normally the exporter — is responsible for providing its authorized agent with a power of attorney or written authorization to file the EEI. That authorization should state that the agent has authority to act on behalf of a principal party in interest as its true and lawful agent. In a routed export, where the foreign buyer's agent files, the USPPI is not required to give that agent a power of attorney or written authorization. The NCBFAA, the US forwarders' association, publishes a model SLI to convey the authorization.

What goes on it

The USPPI's name, address and tax identification number.
The ultimate consignee and the authorized agent.
For each line: Schedule B or HTS code, quantity and value.
Any export licence number or licence exemption.
The authorization itself — box 37 on NCBFAA's model, where the USPPI authorizes the agent to act as its true and lawful agent.

Worked example: an ocean export

Container loads Friday 12:00 · EEI must be filed 24 hours before loading → Thursday 12:00 · the exporter sends the SLI on Wednesday, giving its forwarder a day to file · two lines, USD 3,000 and USD 1,800 → EEI reports the USD 3,000 line

Timing and the USD 2,500 reporting threshold from 15 CFR Part 30; the shipment is illustrative.

Who is liable

The filer — often the forwarder — is responsible for ensuring the EEI is complete, accurate and timely, except insofar as it can show it reasonably relied on information from others. That is why the SLI matters: it is the record of what the exporter told its forwarder to file.

The mistake people make

Signing a standing authorization and never checking the lines. The SLI fixes the values, codes and licence details the forwarder files in the exporter's name; an error in it travels straight into AES, and the forwarder can point to the SLI as the information it relied on.

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