CBP Expected to Implement ESAR A2 for ACE Accounts on a Filer-by-Filer Basis (Deployment Expected in 2009)
According to Trade Support Network (TSN) sources,1,2 Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) A23 will be phased-in for ACE accounts on a filer-by-filer basis instead of deploying overnight, or phasing the system in on a port-by-port basis.
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!
(CBP officials at the ACE Exchange VI conference, which was held July 30-August 1, 2007 in Brooklyn, NY, also stated that this A2 "drop" would be on a filer-by-filer basis.)
TSN Recommended CBP Not Deploy A2 Overnight
According to TSN members, the trade was concerned about CBP's planned overnight deployment (commonly referred to as the "big bang" approach) of ESAR A2 to ACE accounts.
In March 2007, TSN members provided CBP with a white paper outlining the trade's concerns with the state of A2 communication and planning and the risks of a massive changeover, and recommended a slower, phased deployment to make sure that systems could handle the data flows. TSN sources state that it appears that CBP has accepted the TSN's recommendation of a phased deployment approach.
A2 Deployment to ACE Accounts Expected to Be Phased in Filer-by-Filer Over 6-8 Weeks in 2009
TSN sources and CBP officials also stated that A2, which was previously expected to be deployed in fall 2008, is now expected to be deployed to ACE accounts on a filer-by-filer basis in 2009 over a 6-8 week period. Sources add that the 6-8 week phase-in period could be extended if there are unexpected problems that require a longer period.
Once A2 is Deployed for an ACE Account Holder, Entry Summary Processing Must be Done via ACE
TSN sources note that once an ACE account holder makes the switch to ESAR A2, all of its entry summary processing must be done via ACE, unless unforeseen circumstances require a rollback to ABI.
(TSN sources note that importers and brokers do not need to get ACE accounts when A2 is deployed, they only need an ACE account if they are planning to use the ACE Portal.)
CBP Expects to Freeze A2 Requirements Six Months Prior to Phase-In to Allow Trade Time to Test and Finalize Programming
According to TSN sources, CBP is expected to publish the A2 final requirements, including CATAIR chapters for A2 functions, six months before the beginning of the filer-by filer phased deployment. (Prior to this time, software companies and self programmers will program based on preliminary requirements.)
Sources state that once the final requirements are published, they will be frozen for six months - CBP will not make any changes prior to the deployment. During this time period, all software vendors and self programmers will be able to finalize their coding and test their software to ensure that it is stable.
(According to an ACE Exchange VI presentation, the following functionality is expected to be delivered to ACE accounts when A2 is fully deployed:
| Post Release: | Finance: |
| Entry summary processing | Finance processing |
| Liquidation/closeout | Accounts receivable |
| Post summary corrections | Collections and receipts |
| Reconciliation processing | Billing and refunds |
| Quota/visa processing | Bond application storage |
| Team review processing | Bond sufficiency |
| Antidumping/countervailing duty processing | e-Bond |
| Protest processing | Bond authorization file) |
1Information from TSN sources came from a recent TSN press teleconference and via phone and email.
2TSN was established by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide a forum for the discussion of redesign efforts. There are approximately 300 members of the TSN that represent the entire breadth of the trade community, including trade associations, importers, exporters, brokers, etc. When CBP entered a phase of ACE development where timely, focused input from the trade became critical, a TSN committee structure was established.
3Trade sources have previously stated that entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR A2 and that its byword 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.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/14/07 news, 07081499 1, for previous BP summary announcing that A2 would be phased-in.
For more information on A2 see ITT's Online Archives or 10/23/06 and 06/21/07 news, 06102305 and 07062105, for BP summaries of an ESAR fact sheet and CBP discussing the deployment of ESAR A2 at its ACE Exchange V conference, respectively.)
TSN's "ACE ESAR A2 Implementation White Paper", dated 03/30/07, available at http://www.acetransition.net/images/ACE_ESAR_A2_Implementation_White_Paper_v5.doc
ESAR A2 presentation from the ACE Exchange VI (posted 07/23/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace/reports_briefings_events/ace_ex_conf/ace_exch_conf/ace_exvi_conf_present/ace_entry_sum.ctt/ace_entry_sum.ppt