TSN Plenary Session Executive Summary

(CBP)

The Trade Support Network (“TSN”) Plenary session was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston, Virginia on March 4, 2009. Highlights of the plenary session included an overview of the progress of the ACE project as well as updates on future functionality related to Entry Summary, Accounts, & Revenue and Cargo Control and Release. In all, there were 146 attendees (inclusive of trade, PGA, CBP and ACE Support Staff).

The TSN has been extremely active in helping to push CBP to build the best system possible and to keep the agency focused on what is important from the trade’s perspective. The TSN is unique because it allows the regulators to be informed and advised by the regulated. First created in the 1990s during the earlier ill-fated ACE years, it was revitalized in 2001 after funding was restored and contractors were selected.

First created in the 1990s during the earlier ill-fated ACE years, the TSN was revitalized in 2001 after funding was restored and contractors were selected. Today, the TSN is active in helping to push CBP to build the best system possible and to keep the agency focused on what is important from the trade’s perspective. The TSN is unique because it allows the regulators to be informed and advised by the regulated.

The TSN is comprised of several committees, each devoted to certain aspects of ACE or the project as a whole. For example, there are committees devoted to legal and policy issues, as well as those issues that will arise in the transition from ACS to ACE. There are also committees focused on operational parts of ACE, such as entry, finance, manifests, and the implementation of the International Trade Data System, or ITDS. ITDS will eventually exist within ACE as a single interface (also known as the “single window” between the trade community, Customs, and the many other government agencies (OGAs) involved in the administration of trade.

All of the TSN Plenary session presentations can be found at the CBP website here.