CBP's ACEopedia for September provides an update to progress in ACE to date. The latest version added five new agencies planned for ACE interoperability, aimed at allowing a "single window" process that would ease cargo importation and release.
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is the CBP's electronic system through which the international trade community reports imports and exports to and from the U.S. and the government determines admissibility.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) user guide on e-Manifest: Trucks. It provides an introduction to this capability in ACE and information on how to store account information in the ACE, how to add drivers to an account, submitting an e-Manifest, in-bond shipment information, etc.
Movement on legislation reauthorizing CBP before the Presidential election remains largely uncertain, as the window for introduction gets smaller and smaller, said the lobbyist representing the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). With most legislation likely drafted, there's still a possibility of a bill's introduction this week, said Jon Kent, of Kent and O'Connor, who represents the NCBFAA on the Hill. The House is in session through Sept. 21, after which it's on recess through Nov. 13.
CBP Los Angeles scheduled a trade forum on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), it said in a public bulletin. The trade forum is to provide up to date information on a number of topics on ACE. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the bulletin.
CBP posted a user guide on how to Create and Maintain Ocean Conveyances, which contains step by step instructions for creating, viewing and maintaining ocean conveyance records in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Effective Sept. 29, ACE will be the only CBP approved Electronic Data Interchange for transmitting required advance ocean and rail manifest information to CBP. After Sept. 29, ocean carriers should be using the ACE Portal functionality to add all new conveyance records and to edit any existing conveyance records that are under their ACE account, CBP said. Those that have not established an ACE Portal Account should apply for an ACE account now, it said. The ACE Portal Application is available on CBP.gov and may be submitted electronically.
CBP's ACEopedia for August 2012 describes a "New ACE Development Strategy." The new "Agile-like" strategy allows for the additions of smaller functionalities to ACE and has been used in deploying Simplified Entry (SE), the Document Image System (DIS) and Participating Government Agency (PGA) Interoperability, said CBP. The new strategy was the biggest change between the new ACEopedia and previous versions. The new ACEopedia doesn't mention the departure of Cindy Allen, the current head of the ACE Business Office.
CBP posted two updated sets of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), one for policy questions and another for technical questions, on the ongoing Simplified Entry pilot. CBP will being its evaluation of the pilot, which began in May, it said in the policy FAQ. Under Simplified Entry, an importer can file an entry far in advance of a shipment and receive a release indication on its cargo much earlier than under the current entry process.
Brenda Smith will replace Cynthia Allen as head of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Business Office, after Allen leaves for a position at DHL next month, said industry and government officials. Brenda Smith is now the executive director of trade policy and programs in the CBP Office of International Trade. John Leonard, director of textile and apparel policy at CBP, will replace Smith, said CBP.
CBP will modify its selection criteria and expand the participant pool for the a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test on ACE simplified entry capability, the agency said in a notice in the Federal Register Aug. 14. Simplified entry allows participants to file 12 required, and three optional data elements with CBP prior to arrival in the U.S. The ongoing initial phase of the test is only for air transportation mode and will run through Dec. 31, 2013. The changes to the pilot are effective Aug. 14, according to the notice. (FR 08/14)
CBP posted its draft agenda and numerous other documents for the upcoming Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) meeting on Aug. 15 in Seattle. The materials include presentations, draft recommendations, and other documents on the role of the Broker, Simplified Entry, Bonds, Residue, the Global Supply Chain, and other topics.