U.S. Customs & Border Protection Area Ports Go "Live" With Modern Ace Trade Processing System

EL PASO, TEXAS U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry in El Paso, Santa Teresa, Columbus and Presidio have taken a major step in the modernization of trade processing in recent days. Commercial shipments arriving at those ports are now being processed using CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. The Presidio port of entry was the first in the area to flip the switch and go live on March 3. El Pasos Bridge of the Americas cargo lot went live on March 4 and the Columbus and Santa Teresa commercial lots joined the group March 7. El Pasos Ysleta commercial crossing is slated to go live later this month. No commercial traffic arrives at the Antelope Wells, Fabens and Fort Hancock ports so they will not be included in ACE. ACE is the new U.S. trade processing system designed to consolidate and automate border processing to significantly enhance border security and foster our nation's economic security through lawful international trade and travel. The current CBP import system, the Automated Commercial System (ACS), was designed in 1984 and eventually will be replaced by ACE as part of a multi-year U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) modernization effort. Automating time-consuming and labor-intensive transactions and moving goods through the ports and onto markets faster and at lower cost will simplify dealings between CBP, the trade community, and other government agencies. Among other capabilities, CBP personnel will have automated tools and better information to decide before a shipment reaches U.S. borders what cargo should be targeted because it poses a potential risk, and what cargo should be expedited because it complies with U.S. laws. The ACE also provides national account-based processing and data views as CBP moves away from transaction-by-transaction and paper-based processing. By providing the right information and tools, ACE will be a critical element to enforce trade law and to prevent cargo from becoming an instrument of terrorism. ACE BENEFITS INCLUDE: ¢ Enhanced border security ¢ Over 60 downloadable reports ¢ Increased access to data ¢ Expedited trade flow ¢ Reduced paper handling ¢ Simplified and expedited cargo release ¢ Periodic monthly payment ability and account statements ¢ On-line access to data ACE HISTORY The CBP transition to account-based processing began in October 2003 with the launch of the ACE Secure Data Portal. This customized Web page provides a single on-line access point to CBP systems, including ACS, Border Release Advanced Screening and Selectivity (BRASS), the Pre-arrival Processing System (PAPS), Customs Automated Forms Entry System (CAFES), Automated Targeting System (ATS), Free and Secure Trade (FAST), Treasury Enforcement Communication System (TECS), and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Periodic payment and statement features were introduced in June 2004. As of December 7,2005 the number of ACE portal accounts topped 1,000. Previously, for the 215 years since Customs was created in 1789, Customs duties and fees had been processed one entry at a time and there was no way to view filings or payments by account. The Periodic Monthly Statement feature simplifies the processing of duties and fees for importers and brokers with ACE accounts. Periodic Monthly Statements can streamline accounting and report processing and provide the capability to make periodic payments on an interest-free monthly basis. Trade account users mark the entries they wish to be paid on the statement, and then submit payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH) processing. In December 2004, the first land border port was transitioned to ACE in Blaine, Washington, and an electronic manifest (e-Manifest) for trucks was introduced. ACE will be rolled out to 91 land border ports. As of December 2005, ACE has been deployed at 31 ports in the states of Washington, Arizona, North Dakota, Michigan, and Minnesota. The schedule for deployments of ACE to additional ports resumed in January, beginning with selected ports in Texas. For a list of the current ports with ACE capabilities, visit the ACE Accomplishments Fact Sheet. ACE continues to make progress; the program achieved a great accomplishment on December 7, 2005 when the first electronic manifest (e-Manifest) for trucks was filed on the southern border by J.D. Transport at the port of Nogales, Arizona using an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The ACE e-Manifest: Trucks capability enables truck carriers to submit electronic manifests to CBP prior to a trucks arrival at a United States land border crossing. The automated manifest provides CBP officers with cargo information, such as crew details (driver and passenger); description of conveyance (vehicle/truck/cab); description of equipment as applicable (trailer); and shipment details (cargo), so they can begin processing the truck even before it arrives at the gate. By allowing the truck carrier to begin the import process early, drivers endure minimal time at the border itself, so delivery time is lessened and overall profits increased. ACE will be available as the CBP system of record in virtually all of the more than 350 ports and other facilities, bringing capabilities for automation and integration of data to most CBP trade processes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is carefully preparing for the transition from current systems to ACE. A transitional architecture temporarily supports dual operations and facilitates the transfer of data. Official record systems and data are being migrated to ACE and dependence on older systems will diminish. By employing a phased transition strategy, CBP will steadily modernize its systems and processes to provide significantly more reliable and efficient operations for ACE users.