Preparing for ACE Reautomation/Redesign of the Entry Process Under ESAR Release A2 (Part I - Overview)
In February 2006, two members of the trade community prepared a pamphlet entitled "Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release A2," in order to help current ABI/ACS customs brokers, self-filers, and their automation vendors focus on significant changes they might experience as ACE ESAR (Entry Summary, Accounts, Revenue, also referred to as ACE Release 5) is rolled out.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
(Although these two individuals are members of the Trade Support Network (TSN), they note that their pamphlet is not approved, endorsed, or sanctioned in any way by CBP or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).)
This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries of this pamphlet and provides a general overview of the document. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.
(The authors also note that the guide focuses on ESAR Release A2, but also includes references to other ESAR releases as appropriate (e.g., ESAR Releases A1, A3).)
Pamphlet Focuses on ESAR Release A2's Significant Changes
The authors state that the pamphlet focuses on what entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR Release A2; currently expected in early 2008. Trade sources have previously stated that the byword for ESAR A2 should be "reautomate or perish" in light of the reautomation and, in some cases, redesign of the entry process which will occur with ESAR A2.
Overview of the ESAR Release A2 Pamphlet
Contents of pamphlet. The guide lists the following content areas:
| Account Setup | Notices and Requests for Information |
| Pre-Release | Reconciliation Processing |
| Release | Liquidation/Closeout |
| Entry Summary | Refunds-Increases |
| Other Entry Types | Protest Processing |
| Document Presentation | Imaging of Documents |
| Payment of DTF (duties, taxes, and fees) | Implementation/Roll-out |
| Post-summary corrections | Glossary of Acronyms |
Pamphlet estimates programming time for each change. Within each area, as appropriate, the pamphlet provides information on what is seen as operational changes, automation changes, and outstanding questions.
For the automation changes, the guide estimates the significance of each change. The indicators are "small" (less than 24 hours of programming), "medium" (24 to 80 hours programming), and "large" (over 80 hours of programming).
Information in pamphlet is subject to change. The authors note that any decisions, policies, and solutions set forth in the pamphlet are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
The authors add that the pamphlet is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to all aspects of ACE, noting that the details of the automation changes are not finalized and will be further refined in future Trade Ambassador workshops with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the e-Customs Partnership (eCP).
Pamphlet will probably be updated in fall 2006. As the authors learn more about the programs and questions are answered, they state the pamphlet will be updated. Sources note that this will probably occur in Fall 2006.
Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release 2 pamphlet (dated 02/09/06) available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com.