Security initiatives, such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Container Security Initiative (CSI), help to ensure the secure flow of trade-a critical prerequisite for the nation's economic survival. These programs identify and target shipments presenting the highest risks, and speed low risk cargo through U.S. and foreign ports of entry. The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is expected to add even more fuel to the process.

ACE will provide additional tools to improve the targeting and pre-screening of high-risk containers before they arrive at U.S. ports. It will electronically capture advance data from the international supply chain, process this data through sophisticated risk analysis tools, and generate information to identify and confirm potential violations of U.S. laws.

Account management improves security analysis
The ACE account management feature will change the way Customs and Border Protection (CBP) works. Right now, every import is processed as a separate transaction. For example, ABC company imports 20 products during August 2003. CBP will send ABC company 20 different statements-one for each transaction.

In contrast, ACE will track and consolidate these imports into one transaction. So, ABC company now receives one statement for all 20 transactions-like a credit card bill. And CBP staff and importers can automatically review these transactions online.

How will this feature help to better secure the flow of trade? The old transaction-by-transaction process involves hundreds of man-hours and a series of labor intensive steps. The new account management feature will free up these excess man-hours and allow CBP staff more time to make more informed decisions regarding a company's transactions. For example, CBP staff will be able to view ABC company's entire import history online-instead of reviewing tons of paperwork-to determine any suspicious activities.

Centralized information sharing
One of the challenges facing the Department of Homeland Security is developing better ways to share enforcement and intelligence information. ACE and the International Trade Data System (ITDS)-a program that requires the electronic filing of a transportation declaration and a goods declaration to be completed by the importer or broker-will link the government's law enforcement databases into a single database that tracks all commerce crossing U.S. borders.

ACE and ITDS will permit agencies to analyze vast amounts of import and export information easily, revealing security threats that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. In addition, the trade community will forward their information to the government by way of the Internet, thus reducing time and transaction costs associated with low risk goods entering or leaving the United States.

As ACE improves day-to-day business processes, inspectors will have more time and resources to focus on illegal transactions. The bottom line: CBP will be an agency even better equipped to combat terrorism, consolidate information effectively, and facilitate legitimate trade around the world.