ACE for Exports, Cargo Release Discussed at Trade Leadership Council Conference
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted “background materials” from the June 8, 2011 Trade Leadership Council (TLC) conference that was held in New York. The TLC consists of ACE trade ambassadors and trade co-chairs of the Trade Support Network (TSN) committees.
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At the conference, CBP used the materials below to provide a status update on several ACE topics. Note that some of the information has been covered in additional detail or has been overtaken by events since the June 8 conference (cites are provided for more detailed/up to date information):
Automated Export Processing -- The objective is to establish ACE as the single automated processing platform for all export manifest commodity, licensing, and export control transactions. Currently the Automated Export System (AES) is used to capture export commodity data. There currently is no comprehensive automated system for the collection of export manifest data.
Near term recommendations include:
- Establish an interface between AES and the ACE platform to allow CBP and the Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) access to export control and licensing information.
- Develop standard data set documents for exports to identify all CBP and PGA data elements required for export transactions.
- Develop the capability to accept document images to support manifest, commodity, or export control filings.
- Develop functionality for an Interoperability Web Based System (IWS) among CBP and the PGAs.
Long term recommendations include:
- Establish a single window processing platform in ACE to interface with the Census AES system and PGA operating systems.
- Evaluate feasibility of using the sea and rail manifest functionality to develop an export manifest for the sea and rail modes.
- Develop a multi-agency, cross functional working group to examine this functionality, comprised of representatives from CBP, ITDS/PGAs, and the trade community
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/28/11 news, 11042817, for BP summary of CBP officials discussing its plan on looking at ways to use ACE for exports, etc.)
Cargo Release -- ACE Cargo Release functionality will enhance the ability of CBP and over 40 PGAs to evaluate the security, safety, and compliance of imported products and will facilitate the entry and release of legitimate imported cargo into the commerce of the U.S.
CBP is in the final steps of completing the Operational Requirement Development phase of the project which includes the development of: (1) A Cargo Release CONOPS; (2) An Operational Requirements Document (ORD); and, (3) A Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM). The next major phase of the Cargo Release process will include the development of a functional requirements document and the acquisition package. Expectation for completion of the ORD is June 23rd.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/03/11 news, 11060317, for BP summary of CBP holding Cargo Release status sessions with the trade, PGAs, etc.)
PGA Message Set - The establishment of the PGA Message Set is one of the three ITDS initiatives proposed by Commissioner Bersin and the Office of International Trade (OT) to enhance automated interaction between CBP, PGAs and trade partners by facilitating electronic collection, processing, and review of trade documents filed during the cargo importation and release process.
CBP notes that the PGAs are beginning the rule making process to provide for electronic data collection authority and are working to create samples of how the PGA Message Set should be used to satisfy data needs to replace paper forms.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/10/11 news, 11061014, for BP summary of CBP posting the message set, etc.)
Document Image System - One of the other two interrelated ITDS initiatives proposed by Commissioner Bersin is DIS. DIS will facilitate the automated submission of documents and specific data by trade participants to CBP. Transmitted documents will be processed and securely stored by CBP, and made available for review by CBP and PGAs via the DIS application
DIS is still targeted for summer 2011. Documents for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been programmed and deployed for DIS and discussions and requirements are in progress with other PGAs. DIS continues to have monthly releases to support functionality enhancements, trade and PGA expansion and production fixes.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/29/11 news, 11042933, for BP summary of CBP officials discussing DIS at recent trade events.)
e-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1) -- M1 will provide a common Multi-Modal database and shared cargo control software for sea and rail modes of transportation. CBP notes that trade testing began in May and is going well. The full “go live” deployment is scheduled for winter 2012. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/03/11 news, 11060317, for BP summary of CBP’s most recent update on M1.)
Post Summary Corrections -- CBP deployed PSC functionality on June 4, 2011. Trade participants can now to submit a PSC for an existing ACE type 01 and 03 entry summary.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/07/11 news, 11060719, for BP summary of CBP deploying PSC on June 4. See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/23/11 and 06/24/11 news, 11062303 and 11062420, for BP summaries of CBP announcing it will discontinue PEAs for ACE entry summaries and CBP’s formal notice on the ESAR test and access for PSCs, respectively.)