»Issue 2, Volume 07                          www.scarbrough-intl.com                         » February 2007  

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BUSINESS NEWS

Entering the Electronic Era

Automated Computer Environment (ACE) is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plan for modernization.  To keep up with the faster paces of the electronic era, CBP is upgrading its technology to this system that makes it easier for CBP, the trade community and any participating government agencies to connect via an online access point.  Essentially a customized webpage, information related to cargo shipments is consolidated in one easily accessible location.  ACE helps CBP to secure U.S. borders and to ensure lawful international trade.

ACE is making strides in decreasing the amount of paper that is used in customs entries.  Currently, 30-50 percent of entries require paper, but with the electronic capabilities of ACE, CBP will streamline its operations to significantly decrease the amount of paper required.  ACE will eliminate the time and expense it takes to process and store all of the pages of paper resulting in considerable savings and improved efficiency in the trade process.

The system includes e-Manifests as one vital way of reducing the use of paper.  E-Manifests are entered electronically before the carrier reaches the border of the United States instead of the carrier holding a paper copy of the manifest to present at the time of crossing.  The mandatory filing of e-Manifests will be phased in throughout 2007, according to CBP.  ACE is currently used at 65 of the total 99 land-border ports, but plans are in progress to make all land ports, and eventually all air, rail, and sea cargo entries, part of the ACE system. 

New features are regularly added to ACE to improve the system.  In early 2007, a new ACE reporting tool will be activated that will make ACE reports more user friendly and provide a foundation for enhanced capabilities.  Following that, an Authorized Data Extract is expected to be put in place, which will make it possible for ACE users to download large amounts of data for reporting or analytical purposes.

ACE improves communications between CBP and brokers like Scarbrough International, Ltd.  The web-based system allows ease of access to information and provides concentrated details for tracking import activity to all parties involved.  Even importers not interested in establishing an ACE portal account can use an authorized broker with an ACE portal account to make payments; for more information contact Scarbrough International, Ltd.

When the ACE system is fully integrated into trade procedure, CBP estimates that as many as 300 or more procedural steps could be removed from the Automated Commercial System (ACS) code.  ACE will be introduced to the customs process gradually.  CBP has outlined a series of phases to take place from now until 2010 before all elements of trade will be incorporated, but any brokers, importers, or carriers to utilize the ACE system now will experience the advantages sooner rather than later.

-- Bess Keller, Intern (William Jewell College)

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