U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at the March 25, 2009 ACE Information Seminar provided an update on the current status of the Automated Commercial Environment and the capabilities to be delivered in future releases.
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 has issued a CSMS message announcing the expected implementation date for two rules in the Batch & Block Control Chapter of the ACE ABI CATAIR1 that will need to be adhered to for all messages for six ABI application identifiers, or fatal errors will result.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently posted to its Web site a frequently asked question (FAQ) document regarding its interim final rule that amended 19 CFR effective January 26, 2009, to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 (July 1 through September 30, 2008).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a general notice announcing the deployment schedule for its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR A2.2) ACE entry summary capabilities test, including functionality specific to entry summary filing and processing of formal (type 01) and informal (type 11) entry summaries.
CBP has posted its report to Congress on ACE for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008). The report provides an update on ACE accomplishments, challenges, fiscal status, and upcoming program milestones. (See future issue of ITT for details on the report) (Report, dated 02/27/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace/quarterly_reports/ace_4thqtr_08.ctt/ace_4thqtr_08.pdf)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that when it introduces enhanced Automated Commercial Environment electronic cargo processing capabilities in spring 2009 (e-Manifest: Ocean1), sea carriers will be able to use the broker download capability to facilitate communication and data sharing among carriers, brokers, and self-filing importers.
On February 25, 2009 the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) sent a letter to President Obama advocating a "stimulus package for trade."
Recently posted to the International Trade Data System Web site is a notice summarizing the current and future benefits that the Foreign Trade Zones Board receives from the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
Sources at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a recent National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) webinar have provided an update on using the new Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) chapter1 containingthe Participating Government Agencies (PGA) data set for submitting the Lacey Act Amendments declaration for imported plants and plant products.