CBP created new capabilities in ACE allowing brokers with ACE Secure Data Portal access to download a template to add, edit and delete multiple employee records in their ACE portal account, it said in a new CSMS message. The new "Broker Employee Data Upload Quick Reference Guide" was posted (here) to CBP.gov providing information on adding individual employee data records or using a template that may be saved to your computer and retrieved to make updates to employee data records simultaneously. Adding employee information in the ACE Portal will allow a broker to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 111, CBP said.

CBP posted the ACE Single Window Document Image System (DIS) Trade Scenarios document to CBP.gov. The document lists six scenarios for trade community members to better understand how DIS can be used in their business operations. A copy is available (here).

The ACE Certification system was experiencing technical issues the morning of Monday, Aug. 19, and was not available, CBP said. Technical investigation was continuing, and CBP said users would be informed by CSMS when the issue is resolved.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

Capitol Hill appropriators and the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees are "pleased there's an end in sight" and are supportive of CBP's effort to deploy the long-discussed Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), said Brenda Smith, executive director of the ACE Business Office. Smith met with reporters Aug. 8 to discuss movement on ACE. Still, some lawmakers are "a little skeptical," she said. Continued cuts under sequestration or otherwise would "be a risk for the program," she said. The ACE program lost about $10 million as a result of the sequestration order and related furlough mitigation in FY 2013, she said.

The Department of Homeland Security gave CBP its approval for a three-year plan to implement the Automated Commercial Environment, said CBP Acting Commissioner Tom Winkowski Aug. 7 during the CBP Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) meeting. The plan makes use of "agile development," allowing for the addition of incremental capabilities within ACE (see 12082729). Under the three-year plan, all electronic import and export manifest data will have to be transmitted in ACE by May 1, 2015. All data associated with the release of cargo will have to be transmitted in ACE by Nov. 1, 2015, and ACE will be required for all filing by Oct. 1, 2016, CBP said.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

Customs broker A.N. Deringer signed an agreement with Kewill to transition to Kewill Customs' technology platform, Kewill said July 30. Kewill called Kewill Customs “a next generation customs brokerage solution” that will offer “enhanced visibility, functionality, and robust ad hoc reporting capabilities to service both Deringer and its clients.” Sandy Mayotte, senior vice president of Deringer, said Kewill Customs’ platform design was easy to use, resulting in less time training logistics professionals to use the system “so that they can dedicate more time to renewing files and ensuring compliance for customers.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added individuals and entities to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list on July 30. The OFAC also authorized deletions to the SDN list and made the certain changes.