New Documents to Assist ACE Transition

(CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is providing supporting documentation on its website for the new ACE entry summary process it successfully piloted in Buffalo last month and in Chicago, Laredo and Long Beach in May.

ACE or the Automated Commercial Environment is a CBP initiative designed to modernize the agency’s international trade business processes, improve homeland security and re-engineer the technology system that supports them.

The latest ACE pilot program allows the trade community to file and CBP to process, in ACE, the two most common entry types, 01 Consumption and 11 Informal. The ACE entry summary pilot will be extended to additional ports in stages to permit rigorous testing before it is implemented nationally. ACE entry summary processing for remaining entry types will be added throughout the next few years.

The ACE outreach documents will assist the international trade community in their transition to ACE. This information includes additional links to helpful memos and directives on ACE entry summary processing, and will be continually updated with every major ACE release.

• ACE Entry Summary Instructions These instructions are organized the way the data is transmitted and stored in ACE. They include descriptions of the entry summary data fields and links to program and policy documents.

• Business Rules and Process Document (Trade) Version 1.1 ACE is a true electronic system of record keeping for entry summary processing. This significant change requires revised operational policies and procedures, and this document informs the public of those changes. Links to program and policy documents are included as well.

• CBP Form 7501 TEST – Document/Payment Transmittal This test 7501 transmittal may be used by the trade as a cover sheet to submit required paper documents or monies due related to an ACE entry summary.

• ACE Entry Summary Rejection Response This response template may be used to respond to a CBP initiated electronic entry summary rejection.

CBP has been working closely with the members of the Trade Support Network and the ACE ambassador representatives to develop these documents, and will continue this collaboration over the coming months to ensure clear and transparent guidance on CBP’s importing requirements.