On March 14, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration launched its online Import Trade Auxiliary Communications System (ITACS) which allows the trade to: (i) check the FDA status of specific entries/lines; (2) submit entry documentation and link them to specific entries/lines; and (3) submit availability information for targeted shipments. FDA has posted a presentation on ITACS, which covers its system requirements, benefits, future functionality, and a "walkthrough" of current functionality. FDA sources stated that anyone with the shipment's entry number could submit entry documents using ITACS, and noted that there were no plans to integrate ITACS with ACE.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it has resolved communication problems at the CBP Data Center that affected ABI and EDI data for all FAST truck manifests and other ACE truck manifests (announced in CSMS #12-000097). Additionally, the CBP Network experienced intermittent connectivity issues affecting Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to the CBP Mainframe environment (announced in CSMS #12-000098). CBP states this issue has been resolved and trade partners have reestablished connectivity. (CSMS #12-000099, dated 03/20/12)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) and Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) are now updated to accept entry summaries claiming U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement duty benefits. While the KFTA has been in effect since March 15, entry summary claims could not be filed in ACS or ACE until these systems were updated for the KFTA. CBP has previously stated that KFTA claims are made using the Special Program Indicator (SPI) "KR."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has listed the trade benefits for participants in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) by industry segment. Specific benefits are listed for Customs brokers, importers, self-filers, sureties, carriers, trade account owners (TAOs), as well as all users with portal accounts, for (1) ACE Secure Data Portal, (2) Periodic Monthly Statement, (3) ACE Reports, (4) Entry Summary Filing, (5) Post Summary Corrections, (6) e-Manifest: Truck and (7) e-Manifest: Rail and Sea.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice stating that if Ocean Manifest Users are not yet filing their ocean manifest data via ACE e-Manifest: Rail and Sea, nor testing to become certified, it's now time to take action.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that a data communications problem at the CBP Data Center is currently affecting some trade partners (ABI and EDI data for all FAST truck manifests and other ACE truck manifests). CBP will provide an update as additional information becomes available. (CSMS #12-000097, dated 03/20/12)
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 12 - March 16, 2012 in case they were missed last week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its ranking of priority ACE projects, including those that are in the works and planned. According to CBP, the development of DIS, PGA Message Set, PGA Interoperability, and some Export work is fully funded and Cargo Release/Simplified Entry is partially funded. After that, unless future funding is available for the continuous development of new capacities, ACE development work will cease.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the materials from its March 6-8, 2012 Trade Software Developer Technical Seminar at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) meeting. During the seminar, CBP officials discussed programming changes for existing and new functionality scheduled to be delivered as part of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Access all of the seminar materials here.