CBP "successfully deployed" its first round of new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) functionality, called ACE Deployment A, the agency said in a CSMS message. The deployment, originally scheduled for Oct. 5, was pushed to Nov. 2 due to the government closure (see 13102419). New capabilities in the ACE update include ACE Reports Software Upgrade, ACE Cargo Release Pilot Expansion, Partner Government Agency Message Set, and Entry Summary Validations for tariff classification and Harbor Maintenance Fees (see 13092719)

Customs brokers and importer self-filers in CBP's Simplified Entry pilot will no longer be required to have Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) status to test the program, CBP said in a notice. The agency is expanding the pilot program and officially rebranding it as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release test, said CBP.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

The post-sequestration, Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 funding level of $22,839,425 for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) forced six furlough days for agency employees and caused significant disruption to the agency’s legislative mandate of harmonizing regulation in international ocean shipping, testified FMC Chairman Mario Cordero before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on Oct. 29. Cordero requested Congress authorize the agency $25 million for FY 2014.

CBP released the agenda for the Nov. 15 meeting with the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (COAC) in Washington, D.C. CBP also said the meeting will be available online and registration is available (here).

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

The Automated Commercial Environment is mistakenly showing the total manifest quantity for Foreign Trade Zone admissions, said CBP in a CSMS message. The problem is a display issue only and concurrences are being processed for the actual amount, said CBP. CBP said it is looking into the problem.

CBP will deploy a number of new features Nov. 2 for the Automated Commercial Environment, the agency said in a CSMS message. The features were originally planned to be put in place Oct. 5 but were postponed as a result of the government shutdown (see 13100712). New capabilities in the ACE update were to include ACE Reports Software Upgrade, ACE Cargo Release Pilot Expansion, Partner Government Agency Message Set, and Entry Summary Validations (see 13092719). CBP also updated an information notice to reflect the deployment date (here).

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Oct. 7-11 in case they were missed.

CBP said Oct. 4 it would delay its deployment for a number of new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) features planned on Oct. 5. "CBP is monitoring the situation for developments and will continue to do so until funding is put in place to re-open the government," it said in a CSMS message. "CBP is ready to deploy and will ensure the Trade Community receives advanced notification of any decision to deploy." The CBP announcement followed a National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America notice saying the deployment would be put off (see 13100417).