For goods exported that are not sold, what value should the EEI reflect?

The value that the Electronic Export Information (EEI) should reflect for goods exported that are not sold is the cost to the exporter of obtaining the goods in the U.S. This aligns with the principle that the EEI must accurately represent the value for export purposes, as it ensures compliance with U.S. export regulations.

When goods are exported that have not been sold, their market value or retail price may not be relevant since no transaction has occurred. Instead, the focus is on the cost incurred by the exporter to procure these goods from the domestic market. This cost includes any expenses associated with acquiring the products, effectively providing a realistic reflection of their financial equivalent on the exporter’s balance sheet.

While other options could theoretically represent a value, they fall short in this context. The international market value is not applicable as the goods have not reached the sales stage or established a market price abroad. The retail price is only relevant in the context of sold goods and does not apply to unsold inventory. The estimated replacement value is more suited for insurance assessments rather than for export declaration purposes. Thus, the approach of using the cost to the exporter ensures compliance and accuracy in reporting for exports.