CBP delays ACE consolidated express filings

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will delay deployment of consolidated express filing capabilities in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) until July 27.
   The agency originally had scheduled the launch of the capability for June 15. CBP did not say why it decided to delay the new functionality.
   The consolidated express filings will allow for the consolidation of informal entry summaries to be processed in the express consignment environment. 
   “Today these transactions are filed non-ABI (Automated Broker Interface) and are burdensome due to the manual processing and extensive paperwork required,” CBP said in a June 4 notice. “With this deployment, authorized filers will be able to file electronically in ACE and will no longer have to submit paper nor mail in checks to pay duties for these filings.”
   Specifically, the change will allow automated consolidated express filings to be filed as a type 11 informal entry summary. Users will be able to make their payments to the agency via daily statements. Manifest paperwork will only be required if requested by the agency and would need to be submitted via a document imaging system, CBP said.
   The agency also said the merchandise processing fee will continue to be collected on a quarterly basis.
   The express carrier industry has worked closely with CBP to develop functionality for the consolidated express filings in ACE.
   “We very much support the overall goal, which is to provide an automated process for paying the duty on multiple shipments with a single check,” said Michael Mullen, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Express Association of America. “We are looking forward to working through the issues that need solutions in order to get this up and running and realize the benefits of the new approach.”
  CBP said it will host daily support calls from 2 to 3 p.m. EST, starting July 25, to answer any questions or concerns from the trade regarding the consolidated express filings. The dial-in phone number will be (877) 336-1828, code: 6124214.