Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

CBP posted a draft version of some frequently asked questions regarding ocean export manifests in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). "The document represents a series of questions received from Ocean Export stakeholders," said CBP. "Where possible, CBP has provided a preliminary response to the various questions." The FAQs largely focus on technical issues. The agency stressed that the FAQs are a draft document and not an official regulatory document. "This document is a working vehicle for exchange of information between CBP and ocean industry stake holders during the development phases of the [Automated Export System] Export Manifest," it said. "At a future time, CBP may incorporate all or part of this document into an official Export Manifest FAQ document. Trade groups will be notified via CSMS of any such official publication; meantime this document is an evolving work in progress."

CBP created a page (here) dedicated to frequently asked questions related to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The page includes a number of questions and sections, such as information related to exports, that are not included in a more detailed and technical set of FAQs CBP previously released (here).

CBP updated the Automated Commercial Environment to provide users breakdowns of merchandise processing fees (MPF), harbor maintenance fees (HMF) and other fees, the agency said. "ACE users may now modify any standard report from the Entry Summary Sub-Folder of ACE Reports and add the new data objects (to include itemized amounts of MPF, HMF and Other Fees) reported at the detail line level of an ACE entry summary," said CBP. "The three new data elements are classified as measures, which may be used in calculations and are identified by a gold ruler icon inside the universe outline panel."

CBP posted the slides from a July 22 presentation on Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the electronic data interchange (EDI). The presentation includes slides on "Steps for First Time EDI Filers" and "Transitioning to ACE ABI from Legacy Systems."

CBP posted the slides from a July 14 presentation on Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Presenters included CBP officials as well as Amy Magnus, Director of Customs Affairs and Compliance at A.N. Deringer and Stuart Schmidt, manager of trade compliance at UPS. The presentation includes slides on "ACE Entry Summary Post Statement Requests for Documents and CBP Forms 28, 29, 4647" and "ACE Entry Summary Post Summary Corrections, Rejections and Lifecycle."

CBP will add a number of new features to the Automated Commercial Environment in a July 12 update, the agency said in a information notice. The deployment will add unified filing of cargo release and importer security filing data, it said. Six shipment types will be allowed within ACE Cargo Release: Standard or regular filings, To Order Shipments, Military and Government, U.S. Goods Returned, International Mail Shipments, and Outer Continental Shelf Shipments. All others will need to be filed as stand-alone ISF transactions, it said. The update will also add system validations for entry summaries, it said. Users will see new system error messages for informal entry restrictions, charges restrictions, taxes and other fees, it said.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a public workshop on Sept. 18 to discuss electronic filing of certificates of compliance as part of the import entry process. CPSC says it will use input it gets from the workshop to inform its implementation of electronic filing at time of entry, which may take the form of an electronic document or data elements in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Registration is required by Aug. 8 for presenters, and Sept. 5 for all others who want to attend the workshop, which will also be webcast. Registration will be available (here). CPSC will also accept written comments by Oct. 31.

CBP will hold an outreach event in San Francisco on July 17 at 9:30-11:30 a.m. to discuss the rollout of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) with the trade community. Steve Hilsen, director of business transformation at CBP’s ACE business office will discuss upcoming ACE deployments, new functionality, and mandatory dates for filing through ACE. Space for the event is limited, said CBP. To register, email Elizabeth Valentini at elizabeth.a.valentini@cbp.dhs.gov.

CBP will begin the third phase of its Document Image System (DIS) pilot in the Automated Commercial Environment, expanding the program by supporting additional partner government agency (PGA) forms and revising rules for submitting images through DIS, said CBP in a notice. DIS allows for electronic submission of documents during the import process required by multiple agencies. CBP began testing the program in 2012 (see 12040548) and began the second phase during the summer of 2013 (see 13071014).

MINNEAPOLIS -- As the customs drawback claims process moves toward incorporation into the Automated Commercial Environment, Congress will need to act on Customs Reauthorization legislation in order to provide CBP the authority to both simplify and automate the program, said industry officials and a CBP customs official on June 18 at the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) annual conference. Both House and Senate Customs Reauthorization bills include provisions that would spur automation and revise drawback to simplify the process. Those bills, however, have not moved on Capitol Hill in months.