The September 29, 2012, cutoff date for use of Automated Manifest System/Automated Commercial System (AMS/ACS) will affect non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs), terminal operators, port authorities and other entities that receive secondary party notifications in addition to master vessel operator common carriers (MVOCCs). As of Sept. 29, 2012, Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) will be the only acceptable electronic data interchange (EDI).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted an updated version of its spreadsheet of ACE ESAR A2.2 (Initial Entry Types) programming issues.

Automated Commercial Environment Reports wasn''t available for three hours beginning 9 PM EST on March 27, 2012. Any reports scheduled to run during this time were scheduled after ACE Reports goes back on line.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) review on e-Manifest: Trucks. It provides information on how to store account information in the ACE, mandatory exemptions, submitting an e-Manifest, in-bond shipment information, etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has set the deadline to cutover to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) e-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1) for the submission of required advance information for ocean and rail cargo. In its public notice, CBP said it recently completed the testing of ACE M1, and, after a six-month transition period, ACE will be the only CBP-approved EDI for such information as of September 29, 2012.

Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 19 - March 23, 2012 in case they were missed last week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants all parties to start filing Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entry summaries immediately to take full advantage of new capabilities and benefits that will become available in ACE. All new functionality that is being deployed will be available only in ACE and not in the Automated Commercial System (ACS), CBP officials told a seminar hosted by the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America. CBP states that use of the PGA Message Set, Document Image System (DIS), and Simplified Entry capabilities will require filing of an ACE entry summary.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the maintenance activity scheduled in the ACE extended maintenance window starting Sunday March 25 has been completed and ACE is now available. On March 23, CBP had advised the trade that the regular ACE Maintenance Window might be extended March 25. (CSMS #12-000106)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its spreadsheet of ACE ESAR A2.2 (Initial Entry Types) programming issues.

The Governments of Mexico and Brazil have reported the Fourth Supplemental Protocol to Appendix II "On trade in the Automotive Sector between Brazil and Mexico," of the Economic Complementarity Agreement No. 55 (ACE 55). Under this agreement, both countries agree to a three-year temporary and incremental scheme for the levels of duty-free light vehicle exports. Such trade, after March 19, 2015, will then become free. They also agreed to increase the regional content of light vehicles from 30 to 35 percent during the first year to 40 percent after five years. Finally, with regard to heavy vehicles, consultations will be carried out to achieve reciprocal access to, and the homogenization of, technical and environmental standards. According to the Mexican Ministry of Economy, this agreement provides legal and commercial certainty to the manufacturing sectors of Mexico and Brazil.