Customs and Border Protection: The Future of ACE
In 1991, Customs and Border Protection began the development for their new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Customs and Border Protection has big plans for ACE which has been designed to replace the current processing system used by CBP called ACS or Automated Commercial System. CBP’s plan has been to release and deploy ACE over a multi-year period in different phases. The question for CPB would have to be just how many phases and over what length of time is it going to take for ACE to be fully released?
Available Benefits of ACE:
June 2003-ACE Portal Accounts
- The ACE Secure Data Portal is an interactive, on-line tool that provides access to CBP information by the use of the internet. Each ACE portal user has access to near real-time review of CBP entry data, secure account creation, the ability to assign access privileges to others, and the ability to track and respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues. In addition, ACE Portal offers report capabilities that offer over 125 downloadable and customized reports.
June 2004- Periodic Monthly Statement Processing
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The periodic monthly statement processing allows users to consolidate periodic daily statements, along with giving them the option to pay on a monthly basis. By implementing the ACE periodic monthly statement processing system many filers that once operated under the day-to-day payment process can now transition to a consolidated account-based periodic statement process. ACE periodic monthly statement process allows importers to pay for the current months eligible shipments on the 15th working day of the following month.
December 2004- ACE Truck Manifest System, also known as e-manifest
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ACE truck manifest system offers many benefits to its users. The e-manifest benefits enable carriers to:
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Abide by the advanced cargo rule
- Reduce processing times at ports
- Allow users to request in-bond moves
- Report the arrival of in-bond freight
- In addition, e-manifest offers a great deal of other benefits that you can read about by visiting here
September 2007- Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR);
- Entry summery, accounts and revenue offers a numerous amount of capabilities that enhance account management functions. The capabilities of ESAR will be released in phases.
- The first ESAR capability, known as Master Data and Enhanced Accounts (A1), was released in September of 2007. The second phase of ESAR, known as A2.2, was released in April 2009. The new phase of ESAR allows for initial entry summary processing in ACE for type 01 and 11 entries.
- The third phase of ESAR, A2.3.1a, was released in January of this year. A2.3.1a provides new portal and EDI capabilities specific to the processing and filing of AD/CVD entries and AD/CVD case management. The new A2.3.1a offers a great deal of other benefits that you can read about by visiting http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace/esar_faq.xml
Future Benefits of ACE:
On October 27th, Ace presented a webcast by CBP managers to inform everyone on the current status of ACE. The Trade Support Network Trade Ambassadors were present on the webcast, along with over 1,000 other participants. David Aguilar, chair of the board that oversees the ACE development, announced some new release dates for ACE. The Rail and Sea Manifest portion of ACE is set to test in February 2011. In addition, CBP will begin drafting business requirements for ACE Cargo Release and will develop this phase of ACE over the next 2 ½ to 3 years. It seems that ACE is continuing to be a work in progress for CBP and at this point in time has taken close to 19 years to reach where they are today.
For more Information on ACE:
Visit www.cbp.gov/modernization