Current TONS News

September 17, 2012

CBP Releases an Updated Overview of Simplified Entry Pilot

On September 5, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a Simplified Entry Overview document, which provides specific information on how the process flows, and goes over the pilot benefits, participant requirements, current pilot status and the upcoming changes.

In the document, CBP provides four key parts to the Simplified Entry process:
- Submission of streamlined data
- Information is provided in advance
- Data can be updated for accuracy
- Information and messages will be received while the goods are still overseas

CBP also provides some information on functionality that will be added in the future, including:
- Participating Government Agency (PGA) message sets
- Single Transaction Bonds
- Automatic Cancellations and deletions
- Document Imaging System

The full Simplified Entry Overview document is available online at:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_transformation/simplified_entry/simplifed_entry_efforts.ctt/simplifed_entry_efforts.pdf

Ocean, Rail & Truck In-Bond Transition to ACE

As part of their Trade Modernization initiative, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be transitioning all In-bond transactions from the current Automated Broker Interface (ABI) to the new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, which will become official on September 29, 2012.

With the transition from ABI to ACE, new changes in the process have been introduced. CSMS #12-000343, published by CBP on August 31, explains that "In the legacy Automated Broker Interface (ABI) a subsequent in-bond may be transmitted via the In-bond Transaction (QP) after the first arrival posting for the previous in-bond (even if that arrival is not for the full in-bond quantity) but in ACE, subsequent in-bonds may not be transmitted via QP until the previous in-bond is completely arrived."

As a result of this change, industry testing of the new process has shown there to be the potential for delays in movement of cargo in cases where the carrier issues an in-bond for multiple Bills of Lading moving to one destination. Specifically, when the carrier has transmitted one in-bond that covers multiple bills of lading, the transmission of a subsequent in-bond will need to wait for the arrival of all cargo covered under that initial in-bond. If the cargo arrives at the inland destination at different times, there may be delays because a subsequent in-bond cannot be issued until the original one has been closed or fully “arrived”. This situation will likely impact cargo being transported under bond for clearance in a port other than the initial destination or cargo being exported under bond.

Currently, there have been no similar issues reported with clearances transmitted to CBP for cargo covered by in-bonds with multiple Bills of Lading. In these cases, cargo is released by CBP and available although other Bills of Lading covered by the in-bond may not have arrived at the inland destination.

Tons News, for current and past issues of Tons News by E-mail request from tonsnews@tonslogistics.com or call (310) 338-0337.

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Tons News is compiled from a number of public sources that, to the best of Tons knowledge, are true and correct. It is our intent to present only accurate information. However, in the event any information contained herein is erroneous, Tons accepts no liability or responsibility.