Speeding US Import Clearances

CBP explains that entry summaries represent 96% of all entries filed each year. Now, through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) program Secure Data Portal importer account holders can opt to receive and respond to CBP forms electronically.

Commenting on the initial implementation of the expanded capabilities, Louis Samenfink, ACE program executive director, said, “This is quite an exciting year for those who work on and with ACE as we have successfully begun the deployment of new automated entry summary processing features, and will deploy the replacement of current rail and sea automated manifest systems by mid-summer. More than 20,000 CBP and participating government agency end users will be affected by these innovative electronic processes.”

Buffalo, Chicago, Laredo and Long Beach were used for the initial implementation, with other ports to be added in stages. This deployment scheme allows time for both CBP and importers to be assured of ACE’s operability before it goes nationwide.

The first company to take advantage of the new ACE functionality was A.N. Deringer, Inc., a leading customs broker. For the filing, Deringer used an automated solution from Kewill that accelerates clearance of imports by easing necessary entry summary data directly through ACE.