Trade Compliance is complicated and JD Group is here to help.

Welcome to our series of trade compliance support articles specially designed to help you in managing trade compliance, avoiding surprises, reducing costs and achieving the best possible outcomes. We look forward to your questions and comments.

This is the Year for ACE… A brand new import platform from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system was designed and developed by US Customs and Border Protection with the sole purpose of having a single window to process importations into the United States. Although ACE has been under development for many years, it has now come to a point where 2015 is the year where ACE will become mandatory for all cargo release and entry summary processing.

ACE is not only for U.S. Customs Brokers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other U.S. government agencies (FDA, USDA, FCC, etc.); it is also available to US Importers to gain real-time visibility on all import activity into the United States.

From any internet accessible computer any importer with an ACE account can view all their Import Trade Data in real time.

As an ACE user, you have access to Import Entry Reports, US Customs Notices, Ports of Entry, Customs Brokers, etc. among many other data elements. ACE allows users to easily generate reports and export them to EXCEL or PDF for your convenience. Remember, as an Importer you are only able to view the information and not modify or transmit any data to US Customs. Only your designated U.S. Customs Brokers and Importer Self Filers may do so.

Mandatory Dates

US Customs and Border Protection is actively preparing the Trade Community (i.e. Customs Brokers, Importers, Freight Forwarders, OGA’s etc.) for the Mandatory Transition Dates during 2015 and 2016 for ACE.

May 1st 2015: As of this date, it is mandatory to use ACE for all electronic import and export manifest filings for all transportation modes.

February 28 2016: As of this date, it is mandatory to use ACE for all electronic cargo release and related entry summary filings.

October 1st 2016: As of this date, it is mandatory to use ACE for all remaining electronic portions of the CBP cargo process.

It is important that you communicate with all your U.S. Customs Brokers to make sure they are ACE ready. Here at JD Group we are already using ACE to transmit our cargo releases and entry summaries. Our internal systems are fully prepared and operational to meet all ACE requirements.

How to get ACE ready

A great thing about ACE for importers is that it’s Free and User Friendly; all you have to do is register your company information. We strongly recommend that all importers setup and maintain their own ACE portal account. Here are 3 easy steps to get ACE Ready:

  1. Visit: www.cbp/gov/trade/automated
    • a.) Click Apply for an Account
  2. Fill out the ACE application
    • a.) Complete your Company Importer Information
    • b.) Provide a Company Officer Information
    • c.) Provide a Point of Contact Information Available (ACE user)
    • d.) Sign and Submit (via email)
  3. Once the application is submitted you will receive a notification from US Customs with instructions to access your secure ACE portal account. U.S. Customs will automatically upload your import trade data for up to five years.

If you have trouble setting up your ACE account, don’t hesitate to contact us at JD Group, we are more than happy to help you through the entire process.

® Copyright JD Group Integrated Logistics Services, 2015