November ACE Transition Among Top Trade Concerns, CBP Survey Finds

CBP took several steps to help resolve some worries over industry's readiness for the planned Nov. 1 transition date to Automated Commercial Environment after an agency survey found concerns, CBP said. CBP outlined some of its recent work on the subject as part of a broad outline of the survey results (here). Industry leaders last month asked CBP to make some major changes to the ACE timeline because the risk of potential disruptions is too big (see 1506300016). Despite the worries, CBP found ACE users to be increasingly pleased with system operations, it said.

Trade readiness for Nov. 1 mandatory use date for entry summary and cargo release was among the concerns that emerged from the survey, conducted Jan. 16 through Feb. 13, said CBP. In an effort to address the concerns, "ACE Ambassadors have contacted the (1,041) filers who have not yet filed any [entry summaries] in ACE to ensure they are aware of and prepared for the Nov. 1 mandatory use date," it said. CBP also said all the Automated Broker Interface "filers have been approved for Entry Summary, and two-thirds of them have been approved for Cargo Release, based on the readiness of their software vendors." Some 95 percent of software vendors have been certified for entry summary, and 63 percent are certified for both entry summary and cargo release, the agency said.

CBP listed several other efforts the agency is taking on to improve ACE, it said. For example, there's a "continuous effort to integrate all systems, so that all CBP issued forms will be shown in ACE," it said. Also, planned changes will reduce needs for Importer Trade Activity reports, it said. The agency also plans to add notifications for CBP Requests for Information (CF 28), Notices of Action (CF 29) and Redelivery Notices (CF 4647), it said.

Based on the 201 respondents to the survey, ACE users are generally pleased with the system. One-year and four-year trends show "trade user satisfaction rates increased and dissatisfaction rates decreased," said CBP. As of the survey, trade users were most satisfied with Entry Summary features and least satisfied with partner government agency-related processes, it said.