CBP Posts ACE Update Plans for 2013

February 12, 2013

On February 11, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted updates on its website regarding the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). ACE is CBP’s commercial trade processing system, which is designed to automate border processing and is intended to eventually replace the Automated Commercial Environment (ACS). ACE is a part of an ongoing CBP modernization process that is being implemented in phases. CBP’s updates note four projects that will be the focus of ACE development efforts in 2013, including Automated Export System (AES) Re-engineering, Automated Corrections and Deletions in Cargo Release, a Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set, and Initial Entry Summary Edits.

CBP’s Ace 101 update document lists the following planned ACE Updates for 2013:

• Automated Export System (AES) – Re-engineering: Migration of AES off the mainframe and creation of a single automated export processing platform for all export manifest, commodity, export control and licensing, and export targeting transactions.
• Cargo Release – Automated Corrections/Deletions: Capability to accept (or deny) corrections and/or deletions to an entry sent by the trade community via EDI for Simplified Entries already on file with CBP.
• Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set: Capability to establish the first phase of two-way system to system communications between PGAs and CBP. The PGA message set introduces a well-defined, harmonized set of data to be collected electronically from international traders by CBP on behalf of the PGAs.
• Initial Entry Summary Edits; Foundation for the ability to process system “edits” or checks on quality and accuracy of incoming entry summary data so CBP can properly asses duties, taxes and fees.

CBP’s ACE 101 Publication is available here.
CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment Overview and Status Update is available here.
CBP’s Frequently Asked Questions document is available here.