CBP has issued a CSMS message which states that CBP will be deploying new capabilities later this month that will allow rail and sea carriers to transmit electronic manifest data to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Attached to this CSMS message is a summary of M1’s enhancements.

CBP officials state the agency is “exploring its options” on how to address trade concerns that the original ACE entry summary filer is missing out on perhaps important information, when a different filer replaces the original filer’s summary with a Post Summary Correction version, as the original filer does not have visibility to the PSC filing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued instructions on using the Remote Location Filing "Hybrid Process" when paper form Other Government Agency documents must be filed with CBP in conjunction with the RLF data in ACS or ACE. CBP also lists the paper OGA documents that are ineligible for hybrid filings.

U.S. Customs and Border protection has posted a 2011 ACE Accomplishments fact sheet listing a total of 22 accomplishments from January to June 2011. Most recently, in June 2011, a Trade Support Network (TSN) Webinar was hosted where updates were provided on e-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1), Cargo Release, Post Summary Corrections (PSC), etc. Also in June, the Trade Leadership Council held a meeting to provide ACE project updates to the trade community and to receive trade input on ACE project priorities. On June 4, PSC enhancements were deployed.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Joint Agency Task Force has issued a report on its progress in implementing 2007 action plans to address concerns regarding the 2003 transfer of the agricultural inspection function from APHIS to CBP. Pending items to accomplish include creating cargo performance measures and a penalty review process.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message providing a Spanish version of the July 2011 monthly Trade Account Owner (TAO) update for truck carriers to share with all users of their ACE account. (CSMS #11-000176)

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

U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that Web-Based Training (WBT) for e-Manifest: Rail & Sea (M1) is now available. CBP's information on M1 is broken into six lessons, with the recommended audience listed as appropriate.

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report¹ stating that CBP lacks adequate controls over its single transaction bond (STB) process. OIG states billions of dollars in STBs may be at risk, jeopardizing CBP’s ability to use STBs to meet its revenue collection and enforcement goals. In response, CBP stated it would incorporate requirements for bond automation in ACE Cargo Release, develop a risk-based bonding methodology for high-risk imports, etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its July 2011 ACE Trade Account Owner Update, which contains information on the new features and edits of the next ACE release, e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail (M1), which is expected to be deployed in pilot form in September.