Do I need an export license to sell goods abroad?

Often not. Most commercial goods are EAR99 and ship to most destinations without a license. You need one when the item is controlled, the destination is restricted, or the buyer or end use is prohibited — which is why classification and screening come first.

Who is responsible for export compliance, me or my freight forwarder?

You are. As the U.S. principal party in interest, the exporter carries the legal responsibility for accurate classification, screening, and filing even when a forwarder files on your behalf.

When do I have to file EEI?

When the value of goods under a single Schedule B number exceeds $2,500 to one consignee, or whenever an export license is required regardless of value.

How long do I keep export records?

Generally five years from the date of export. Keep classification rationale, screening results, filings, and shipping documents together. A repeatable export program is cheaper than a single penalty. Reidel Law Firm builds export-compliance procedures — classification, screening, licensing, and documentation — for U.S. businesses on flat-fee terms. Get an export compliance memo.

How to Export Goods for Resale

Exporting goods for resale means shipping commercial merchandise to a foreign buyer who will resell it — and it puts the full U.S. export-compliance framework on you as the exporter. Unlike a one-off personal shipment, a resale export is a business transaction the government expects you to classify, screen, document, and file correctly every time. Get the process right once and it becomes routine; skip a step and the exposure is penalties, seizures, and lost shipments.

The exporter is legally responsible for compliance even when a freight forwarder handles the logistics. You can delegate the filing; you cannot delegate the liability.

The Five Questions Every Resale Export Must Answer

A compliant export program comes down to answering five questions before the goods move:

Question	What you determine	Authority