U.S. Customs opens ACE portal test to customs brokers

U.S. Customs opens ACE portal test to customs brokers    U.S. Customs and Border Protection has opened its electronic test of monthly payments of import duties and taxes to customs brokers.
   Under the agency’s initial Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal test, brokers could only participate if they were designated by participating importers to make periodic monthly payments on their behalf.
   U.S. Customs started testing the ACE portal in 2002 by selecting about 40 importers. In February, the agency announced the periodic monthly payment of import duties and taxes as the next step toward full electronic processing of commercial shipments in ACE.
   In addition to permitting brokers to participate, Customs continues to encourage as many importers as possible to test the system. The agency said it would give priority to the first 1,100 applications it receives.
   For more information about what’s required to become an ACE importer or broker test account, access online: https://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-20319.htm .