23 October 2007

ACE revenue tops $1B

The following was reported on in the 23 October 2007 editoin of “Journal of Commerce”.

Monthly revenues processed by Customs and Border Protection through its Automated Commercial Environment have exceeded $1 billion for the first time, the agency announced.

In June, Customs collected $1.04 billion through ACE, which allows importers to make monthly payments for goods that have entered U.S. commerce. Currently ACE accounts for 42 percent of all duties and fees Customs collects.

Importers began to use ACE in July, 2004, and it took until September, 2005, to collect the first $1 billion in total revenue, said Louis Samenfink, executive director for the Customs' cargo systems program office.

“Now, ACE has collected the same amount during one month,” Samenfink said. “The growing popularity of this feature among the trade community confirms that an automated, account-based approach to doing business with the government is proving successful.”