CBP's December 2005 Modernization Newsletter Discusses New ACE Capabilities in 2006/2007, Etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the December 2005 issue of its Modernization Monthly newsletter, which discusses, among other things, new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities coming in 2006 and 2007.
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New ESAR capabilities to allow surety, FTZ operator accounts, etc. CBP states that a preliminary design review was approved for the new ACE Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) capabilities. In the first phase of delivery, CBP states that the ability to use ACE will be expanded to allow for the creation of more types of "accounts" than the current importer, broker, and carrier accounts.
As CBP extends the definition of an account to include "any entity" doing business with CBP, this delivery will provide the automation to support that vision. CBP states that corresponding system master data will be integrated into ACE for all new account types. Some of the new ACE participants will include sureties and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) operators.
The first phase of enhanced accounts and master data capabilities, called A1, is expected to be active in early 2007. Entry summary and revenue processing capabilities will be introduced over the next several years in the A2 and A3 phases.
Enhanced account features to include access to data from more than one user ID and password, etc. The first enhanced account management features will include cross account access, which will be a convenient tool for users to gain access to data from more than one user ID and password. Users will also have the ability to extend new system abilities to authorized third party entities.
Process for merging accounts within ACE to be streamlined, broker management capabilities to be available on a national level. In addition, the process for merging accounts within the ACE Secure Data Portal will be streamlined, and enhanced validation and duplicate checks will be performed on master data. Broker management capabilities will become available on a national level for the exam, license, and permit processes.
PGAs to have ability to store LPC data; truck drivers to be able to create accounts, etc. According to CBP, Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) will have the ability to manually store license, permit, and certificate (LPC) data at an account level and will provide CBP and trade users the ability to view LPC information. CBP further states that truck drivers will gain the ability to create and maintain their own account, or be able to designate another entity to create or maintain their account.
CBP Plans to Deploy ACE in Texas in Early 2006
CBP's December 2005 Modernization Monthly newsletter also contains an article on CBP's ACE deployment. According to the article, CBP rolled out ACE to ports in Michigan in November 2005 and there are currently 31 ACE ports in the states of Washington, Arizona, North Dakota, Michigan, and Minnesota. CBP states that the ACE deployment schedule resumes in January 2006, beginning with Texas in early 2006.
ACE Non-Portal Accounts Increase ACE Payments
The December 2005 Modernization Monthly newsletter also contains an article on the increase in ACE payments as a result of ACE non-portal accounts, and notes that the first payments of duties and fees through ACE non-portal accounts were received in December 2005.
December 2005 ACE Modernization Monthly newsletter available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/finalnews1205.ctt/finalnews1205.pdf.