U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a three-page list of the URLs for resources to assist the trade in using the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal. The URLs for 18 ACE User Guides on topics ranging from an introduction to ACE to specific topics on AD/CVD cases and messages, e-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1), running reports, etc. are provided. Several ACE User Guides are also available in Spanish. Other ACE resources include ACE web-based training and presentations on ACE capabilities. See document for full list of resources, more detailed descriptions, and links.
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 and the government determines admissibility.
On March 14, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration launched its online Import Trade Auxiliary Communications System (ITACS) which allows the trade to: (i) check the FDA status of specific entries/lines; (2) submit entry documentation and link them to specific entries/lines; and (3) submit availability information for targeted shipments. FDA has posted a presentation on ITACS, which covers its system requirements, benefits, future functionality, and a "walkthrough" of current functionality. FDA sources stated that anyone with the shipment's entry number could submit entry documents using ITACS, and noted that there were no plans to integrate ITACS with ACE.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that compatibility issues between the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) version 8 security patch KB2585542 have been resolved. Users should no longer experience ACE Portal issues with this patch installed. CBP found this issue in January 2012, which affected response times in the ACE Portal. CBP had provided an interim solution for the trade, which involved the removal of the security patch. CBP states users should reports ACE Portal issues to the CBP Technology Service Desk at 1-866-530-4172 or cbp.technology.service.desk@cbp.dhs.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has listed the trade benefits for participants in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) by industry segment. Specific benefits are listed for Customs brokers, importers, self-filers, sureties, carriers, trade account owners (TAOs), as well as all users with portal accounts, for (1) ACE Secure Data Portal, (2) Periodic Monthly Statement, (3) ACE Reports, (4) Entry Summary Filing, (5) Post Summary Corrections, (6) e-Manifest: Truck and (7) e-Manifest: Rail and Sea.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) and Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) are now updated to accept entry summaries claiming U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement duty benefits. While the KFTA has been in effect since March 15, entry summary claims could not be filed in ACS or ACE until these systems were updated for the KFTA. CBP has previously stated that KFTA claims are made using the Special Program Indicator (SPI) "KR."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its ranking of priority ACE projects, including those that are in the works and planned. According to CBP, the development of DIS, PGA Message Set, PGA Interoperability, and some Export work is fully funded and Cargo Release/Simplified Entry is partially funded. After that, unless future funding is available for the continuous development of new capacities, ACE development work will cease.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has revised and expanded its 2005 “Guidance for Certificates of Reimbursement” for antidumping (AD) duties in order to provide updated information on protests, the option for paperless filing using ACE, and provide additional information regarding blanket certificates, related parties, deemed liquidations, and certificates for companion countervailing (CV) duties.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the materials from its March 6-8, 2012 Trade Software Developer Technical Seminar at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) meeting. During the seminar, CBP officials discussed programming changes for existing and new functionality scheduled to be delivered as part of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Access all of the seminar materials here.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by May 11, 2012 on an existing information collection concerning the Application to use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not yet completed its programming to allow entry summary claims for Korea Free Trade Agreement (KFTA or KORUS) duty benefits to be filed using the ACS Automated Broker Interface (ABI). In the meantime, CBP sources and the agency's KFTA instructions list several alternatives to use for entry, and well as a post importation claim option (and form). KFTA takes effect for qualifying goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after March 15, 2012.