Preparing for ACE Reautomation/Redesign of the Entry Process Under ESAR Release A2 (Part VI - CBP-28/29, Protest Processing, Document Imaging, Implementation, Etc.)
In February 2006, two members of the trade community prepared a pamphlet entitled "Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release A2," in order to help current ABI/ACS customs brokers, self-filers, and their automation vendors focus on significant changes they might experience as ACE ESAR (Entry Summary, Accounts, Revenue, also referred to as ACE Release 5) is rolled out.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
(Although these two individuals are members of the Trade Support Network (TSN), they note that their pamphlet is not approved, endorsed, or sanctioned in any way by CBP or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).)
This is Part VI, the final partof a multi-part series of summaries of this pamphlet and contains excerpts from the pamphlet's section on operational changes for other entry types, notices and requests for information, protest processing, imaging of documents, and implementation and rollout.
The authors state that the pamphlet focuses on what entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR Release A2; currently expected in early 2008. Trade sources have previously stated that the byword for ESAR A2 should be "reautomate or perish" in light of the reautomation and, in some cases, redesign of the entry process which will occur with ESAR A2.
Most Entry Types Included
It is expected that ESAR Release A2 will include most entry types, with the following specifically noted:
- Quota entries - these will be part of Release A2
- Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Admissions (note - CBP is currently developing FTZ capabilities under ACS that will be available in ACE)
- Drawback entries - not until ESAR Release A3, expected 2010 or later
- TIB entries - these are close to being analyzed and expected to be in Release A2
- Trade Fair entries - these will be part of Release A2
Notices and Requests for Information - CBP-28s and CBP-29s
Importers and brokers will be able to indicate on the ACE Secure Data Portal where and how they want notices and requests for information sent.
- Both filers and importers of record will be notified in accordance with their individual profile.
- Non-portal importers will receive notices through the default method (paper mailing).
Importers, brokers and others will be able to respond electronically as long as the request was not for original documents or a physical sample.
Protest Processing
Changes to Protest processing will be minimal in ESAR Release A2
Enhanced Protest processing will be provided in ESAR Release A3
Imaging of Documents
The trade has asked that CBP develop a method of receiving images of documents electronically
- this would be in lieu of presenting paper documents at the customhouses
- this could be used for initial presentation of documents, responses to CBP 28s and 29s, or for other exchanges, such as protest support.
- CBP has agreed to do this, but has indicated that the transmission has to be as part of standard, acceptable exchanges with CBP - such as ABI.
The trade has also asked that this imaging be introduced when ESAR is first brought up under Release A2.
The trade has asked that, to take advantage of the greatest efficiencies, ACE be designed so that most CBP employees never see paper, but learn to work from images of documents and data. This should be implemented as ACE is rolled out to import specialists, CBP inspectors and others used to working in a paper-intensive environment.
Implementation/Rollout
As of the writing of the pamphlet, CBP expects to implement ESAR Release A2, which includes most of the items discussed in the pamphlet, in January 2008.
National deployment - while there is still ongoing discussion on the topic, CBP's working model is to implement the ACE changes for all users, at all ports, on the same day.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/22/06, 06/23/06, 06/27/06, 06/28/06, and 06/29/06 news, 06062205, 06062310, 06062715, 06062810, and 06062905 , and Parts I-V.)
Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release 2 pamphlet (dated 02/09/06) available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com.