The document summarizes progress on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, which is intended to modernize trade processing and data collection for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It notes that ACE will automate trade processing for 47 federal agencies, enhance enforcement capabilities, and facilitate exports. By 2016, CBP plans to complete ACE development and require its mandatory use for all remaining cargo processes. ACE deployments in 2013 and 2014 delivered new functionality including expanded data availability, streamlined cargo release, and integrated messaging with partner government agencies. These capabilities are reducing costs for CBP and the private sector while expediting the flow of legitimate cargo.

1. Outlook on CBP 2014
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
by
Sara Schroerlucke, ACE Program Manager
Briefing to
Government Technology & Services Coalition
January 15, 2014

2. ACE – The IT Foundation for the
Single Window
ACE will automate trade processing and data collection for 47 federal agencies
Enhances agency enforcement missions through
trade targeting and risk segmentation
Strengthens the global supply chain to protect U.S.
interests and enhance prosperity
Pre-arrival data linked and available in ACE
Supports U.S. manufacturing growth by facilitating
exports
Participating ocean carriers saving $900K/year in
reduced courier costs
(as of January 2014)
National Export Initiative
Seven agencies receiving automated data via ACE
Global Supply Chain Strategy
Streamlines interagency processing through
collaboration and less paperwork
U.S. Economic
Competitiveness
33% faster truck processing
Up to 76% duties/fees paid interest free via ACE
Security and Safety
Reduces U.S. supply chain transaction costs
One U.S. Government at the
Border
Single Window
Increased USDA food seizures 30-fold
Automated processes saving CBP $46M/year
Automated Commercial Environment

3. ACE Transition
•
CBP’s plan is to complete development and delivery of remaining core
trade processing features in ACE by the end of 2016.
– Seven deployments of new ACE features planned through 2016.
– Agile development methodology being used to build and field capabilities more
quickly and to ensure user input is incorporated throughout the process.
•
Mandatory dates for full transition to ACE:
‒ May 1, 2015: Mandatory use of ACE for Manifest - All electronic export and import
manifest data must be transmitted via ACE.
‒ November 1, 2015: Mandatory use of ACE for Cargo Release - All data
associated with the release of cargo, including PGA interactions, must be
transmitted via ACE.
‒ October 1, 2016: Mandatory use of ACE for all remaining portions of the CBP
cargo process.
•
CBP is working with industry partners to encourage early transition to
ACE.
‒ Currently more than 27% of entries being filed in ACE; and
‒ More than 50% of service providers have completed certification to file ACE entry
summaries.

4. ACE Progress
Expands data available
to assess safety, security,
compliance
Enables speedier
release of legitimate
imported cargo
Modernizes data
requirements to validate
trade law compliance
33% faster truck
processing with ACE
More than 210,000
Simplified Entries filed
More than 27% of entry
summaries filed in ACE
Modernizes processes and
enhances assessment of cargo
for safety, security, compliance
Reduced courier/ printing
costs saving each
participant ~$900K/year
Streamlines
payment
mechanisms
76% duties & fees
collected via ACE

5. ACE Deployment A
 Due to the Government shut down, the first deployment of new ACE
functionality postponed until November 2, 2013.
 Deployment A was completed successfully and included:
Theme
Capability
Trade User Impact
Entry
Summary
Harbor Maintenance Fee and tariff classification validations
Trade-submitted data and CBP online changes
will run against the validations, resulting in
improved data on ACE entry summaries
PGA
Integration
PGA Message Set pilots targeted to begin in late November:
• EPA - Ozone depleting substances; Vehicles and engines
• FSIS - Meat, poultry, eggs
Single Window filing for trade community pilot
participants, streamlined and automated
processing for PGAs (EPA and FSIS) and CBP
pilot ports - Long Beach and Newark (EPA pilot),
Champlain, Houston and Philadelphia (FSIS
pilot)
Streamlined findings input for CBP Agriculture Specialists – eliminates
duplicate manual entry of data resulting in 33% workload reduction;
data is transferred seamlessly to APHIS systems
Impacts Agricultural Specialists
Additional capabilities for ACE Cargo Release pilot – Automated entry
corrections and cancellations, in-bond, split shipments, partial
quantities
Upgraded user interface for CBP
Current impact is at 16 CBP pilot ports with 20
pilot participants
Cargo
Release
Federal Register Notice (FRN) anticipated in early November
authorizing expansion of ACE Cargo Release pilot to additional trade
filers and CBP air ports
Reports
Software upgrade
(Identified fixes being worked separately)
Potential impact to CBPOs and Entry Specialists
at all air ports of entry and additional trade filers
depending on response to Federal Register
Notice and CBP consideration of available
resources
All ACE Reports users

6. ACE Deployment B
 Completed successfully on January 4, 2014 and included:
Capability
CBP User Impact
CBP Training
Manifest
• Vessel Management System (VMS)
(December 7 deployment)
• New screens for CBPOs at
Seaports
• VMS Quick Reference
Guide provided
Cargo
Release
• Mail Entry Writing System (MEWS)
(December 7 deployment)
• New screens for CBPOs and
Import Specialists at 7 mail
processing centers
• MEWS Quick
Reference Guide
provided
• Partial quantities with In-Bond, initially
for air shipments
• Foundational capabilities for expansion
to Ocean and Rail shipments
• Completion of cancellation process from
Entry Summary to Cargo Release
• New capabilities for Trade filers,
CBP Officers and Entry
Specialists
• ACE Cargo Release
User Guide provided
• Single Accept/Reject message for Cargo
Release response to the trade filer
• Cargo Release data build-out
• New message, data for trade
filers
• No training required
Entry
Summary
• Entry Summary Validations – Simple
Duty Calculations
• New validations for data
submitted by trade filers and
online changes by CBP Entry
and Import Specialists
• No training required
PGA
Integration
• Enhanced PG00 record (Reduction in
data duplication)
• PGA Message Improvements
• Reduced data and electronic
status messages for trade filers
• No training required
• CBPAS Streamlined Findings Input
• Improved efficiency for CBPAS
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8. Questions?
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