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

CBP's Office of International Trade issued Version 3.3 of the ACE Business Rules and Process Document. The updated document was edited for clarity, including renumbered chapters to correspond with the CBP internal version (for ease of reference) and additional processing details, said CBP in a CSMS message. The document is (here).

CBP will modify its selection criteria and expand the participant pool for the a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test on ACE simplified entry capability, the agency said in a notice in the Federal Register Aug. 14. Simplified entry allows participants to file 12 required, and three optional data elements with CBP prior to arrival in the U.S. The ongoing initial phase of the test is only for air transportation mode and will run through Dec. 31, 2013. The changes to the pilot are effective Aug. 14, according to the notice. (FR 08/14)

CBP outlined possible regulatory alternatives being considered as part of its rewrite of broker regulations (19 CFR Part 111) during a webinar Aug. 9. The webinar on "Developing regulatory alternatives and evaluating economic impacts" focused on establishing regulatory alternatives to the major issues being considered as part of the rewrite: Bona Fides, a revised Broker Permitting System, and Continuing Education.

CBP posted its draft agenda and numerous other documents for the upcoming Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) meeting on Aug. 15 in Seattle. The materials include presentations, draft recommendations, and other documents on the role of the Broker, Simplified Entry, Bonds, Residue, the Global Supply Chain, and other topics.

CBP posted a new ocean conveyance user guide in preparation for the Sept. 29 cutoff of ACS/AMS, after which the Automated Commercial Environment will be the only electronic interface available for filing advance manifest information, said CBP in a CSMS message (here). The user guide contains step-by-step instructions for creating, viewing and maintaining ocean conveyance records in ACE and ocean carriers should familiarize themselves with the process, said the CBP. After September 29, 2012 ocean carriers should be using the ACE Portal functionality to add all new conveyance records and to edit any that are under their ACE account. CBP said for now, carriers should continue to send their Lloyds email requests to ams.sea.lloyds@dhs.gov when it is known that the vessel is not on file with CBP or if any of the following information changes: Name, Owner, Flag or Registry, Draft and Tonnage (Gross/Net).

Reconciliation reports and automated export user requirements were the focus of the Trade Support Network in May and June, according to newly released committee reports. The June report is (here). The May report is (here).

CBP is significantly expanding the Document Image System (DIS) Automated Export Manifest pilot to additional participants and ports, the agency said in an ACE Trade Account Owner July update. The pilot, which is taking place at the Atlanta field office and includes the ports of Norfolk, Newport News, Wilmington, Beaufort, Morehead City, Georgetown, Charleston, Savannah and Brunswick, will be expanded to the rest of the country in three phases, said CBP.

CBP announced the location and agenda for next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC), Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. (PDT) in Seattle. Online registration for webcast and in-person participation is available through Aug.12, said a notice in the Federal Register July 30.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released spreadsheets showing active AD/CVD cases and the associated case numbers, ISO country codes, tariff numbers, and short descriptions of each case as of July 12 . This information alone should not be relied upon in determining whether an AD/CVD case is currently active, or whether merchandise falls under the scope of AD/CVD order, said CBP. For current AD/CVD information, consult ACE, Department of Commerce Federal Register Notices, and ADDCVD Search on CBP.gov, said CBP. Active anti-dumping cases are (here). Active countervailing cases are (here).