CBP Outlines ACE Protest Filer Accounts for Trade Support Network Meeting

CBP laid out plans for protest filings other post-release processing within ACE as part of a presentation at the Trade Support Network plenary session (here). The electronic mechanism for protest submissions is hoped to allow for broader trade participation and "seamless movement of work that can be equally effective when used at a port or nationwide at a" Center of Excellence and Expertise, said CBP. A deployment date for protests capabilities within ACE isn't yet certain, according to CBP's ACE deployment schedule (here). CBP posted the presentation and additional materials for the TSN session April 5-7 (here).

Protest filings within ACE will require a "Protest Filer Account," said the presentation. Such accounts will be available to current ACE account owners, which will be able to add "Protest Filer to their list of business partners," said CBP. "If not ACE account users already, users may obtain a Protest Filer account using the web form on CBP.gov (still to be published)." Within the accounts, protest filers will be able to amend protests, respond to CBP requests and add protests and supporting documents, said CBP. ACE protests will also allow for electronic notifications "based on specified protest events (Protest Added, Amended, Denied, etc.)," CBP said. The presentation also describes plans for liquidation, reconciliation, quota and drawback processing within ACE.