Speeding US Import Clearances

Successful steps have been taken to allow importers and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to more completely file and process most common entry summaries. CBP explains that entry summaries represent 96% of all entries filed each year. Now, through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) program Secure Data Portal importer account holders can opt to receive and respond to CBP forms electronically.

Commenting on the initial implementation of the expanded capabilities, Louis Samenfink, ACE program executive director, said: "This is an exciting year for those who work on and with ACE as we have successfully begun the deployment of new automated entry summary processing features, and will deploy the replacement of current rail and sea automated manifest systems by mid-summer. More than 20,000 CBP and participating government agency end users will be affected by these innovative electronic processes."

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Customs Launches New Version of ACE

The Automated Commercial Environment is open for business – almost – U.S. Customs and Border Protection said April 22. Customs has begun an advanced pilot program to test features that will allow importers to file entry summaries electronically, one of the major benefits of the new processing system.

“ACE 2.2” will allow importers to file the two most common entries, the consumption entry for merchandise that’s being imported for distribution and sale, and informal entries, which are used for goods valued at less than $2,000, Customs said.

Louis Samenfink, ACE executive program director, said that the features that are being introduced will allow importers to file entry summaries through the ACE online portal, and respond electronically to inquiries sent by the agency.

Samenfink said that some 20,000 importers that have signed up for the pilot will be able to file entries online. The pilot began April 12 at the port of Buffalo. By early May, it will extend to Laredo, Chicago and Long Beach.

The new features kick ACE development back into high gear. The entry summary features were scheduled to be operational in July 2008, but software glitches forced Customs to delay the introduction.

Samenfink said that introduction of the entry summary portion of ACE has paved the way for development of ACE ocean and air manifest systems. The new manifest systems will replace similar operations on the older Automated Commercial System.


To view this article, visit the April 2009 edition of the Journal of Commerce.

CBP: Enhanced ACE Capabilities

Enhanced ACE Capabilities in Advance of Ocean/Rail Manifest Release. Effective Jan. 24 U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be deploying enhanced Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities that will lay the groundwork for the ocean and rail manifest release currently scheduled for this spring. Some of the new enhancements are outlined in the full article found at WorldTrade\Interactive -- http://www.strtrade.com/wti/wti.asp?pub=0&story=30063&date=1%2F20%2F2009&company=