CBP makes ACE requirements easier for importers

WASHINGTON — In a move officials hope will hike participation in ACE, US Customs and Border Protection announced the creation of non-portal ACE accounts for importers and automatic ACE participation for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members.

Non-portal ACE accounts will allow importers and their authorized brokers to make periodic payments through ACE without the importer establishing a separate portal account. The broker must have an ACE portal account.

Cargo Systems Program Office executive director Lou Samenfink said, “While we still encourage importers to establish ACE portal accounts to reap the full benefits of enhanced reporting and communication abilities, we are also mindful of the need to be flexible with companies who may not be ready for portal accounts just yet. We want to ensure we make capabilities like periodic payments available to as many members of the trade community as possible.”

For more details on the 2005 Federal Register Notice, visit the CBP Web site at www.cbp.gov/modernization and scroll down the middle of the page to “ACE Federal Register Notices.”