Error from FedEx: International Broker 2 - Invalid Broker Type

What you’ll see

When you rate or process an international FedEx shipment, you may see one or both of these errors:

International Broker 2, - Invalid Broker Type. Please update and try again. (Source: FedEx)

We are unable to process this request. Please try again later or contact FedEx Customer Service. (Source: FedEx)

Both messages point to the same underlying issue.

Why this happens

The shipment has both an Importer and an Exporter address populated on the Ship page. FedEx only accepts a designated broker on the import side of an international shipment. Export clearance is handled by FedEx Trade Networks automatically and cannot be overridden on the request. When the Exporter address is filled in, FedEx rejects the shipment with the Invalid Broker Type error.

How to fix it

  1. Open the shipment on the Ship page.
  2. In the Ship To Address section, click the address-type dropdown at the top right of that section.
  3. Select Exporter.
  4. Clear every field in the Exporter address so the address is blank.
  5. Switch the dropdown back to Ship To or Importer.
  6. Press F9 to re-rate.
  7. Press F10 to process once the rate succeeds.

The Importer field is the broker field

For international FedEx shipments, Shipstore uses the Importer field on the Ship page as the customs broker designation (FedEx Broker Select Option). Enter your customs broker’s name and address in the destination country here. The broker location is where FedEx will tender the shipment for clearance.

If you do not need to designate your own broker, leave the Importer field blank. FedEx will handle customs clearance automatically through FedEx Trade Networks.

When to use the Exporter field

In almost all cases, leave the Exporter field blank. Shipstore uses your Ship From address as the exporter on the Commercial Invoice automatically.

Only fill in the Exporter field when the legal exporter of record is a different party from the location physically shipping the goods. A typical example is a third-party drop-ship arrangement where another company is named as the exporter for customs purposes.

  • FedEx Broker Select Option (BSO) and Customs Clearance
  • Business Rule Examples - Printing Commercial Invoices