NEW INDUSTRY AUTOMATION GROUP SETS SIGHTS ON ACE
While U.S. Customs builds its future computer system, the Automated Commercial Environment, the country’s leading shipping industry officials want to ensure that their voice is heard during the process.
“There is no question that ACE will have a significant impact on the day-to-day business of its users,” said the newly formed Trade Automation Policy Forum (TAPF) in a statement Tuesday. “Thus, the trade community has a huge stake in the building of ACE and must remain engaged in the process.”
Customs plans to award a contract to a “prime” systems contractor by April 25, and start work on ACE this summer. The system is expected to take five years and $2 billion to build.
“Over the next five years, the trade community will work with Customs and its automation partner to shape the environment that will support their global operations,” the group said.
Many of the forum’s members are veterans in Customs systems development. Its predecessor, the International Electronic Trade Steering Committee, was created several years ago to pursue a more efficient Customs system. The group lobbied for Customs to outsource its systems development and fought against user fees as a means to pay for the system.
The International Electronic Trade Steering Committee went dormant for a few years while the Coalition for Customs Automation Funding stepped in to lobby for ACE funding.
“TAPF will be a forum for the major automation stakeholders to debate, build consensus, and advise,” the group said.
The forum members also plan to take the Customs systems development debate another step further. “The group will look beyond domestic automation initiatives and ACE, and will also focus on the development of global automation principles and standards.”
The focus of the Trade Automation Policy Forum, so far, will be to:
* Work with Customs and the prime contractor on ACE design and development.
* Participate in the Customs Data Element Study.
* Participate with Customs in the Trade Support Network meetings.
* Provide recommendations on, and participate in, the G-7 Data Elements Initiative.
* Conduct research, analysis and benchmarking of other international trade systems.
* Monitor and participate in major trade initiatives to ensure that agreements, such as the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation and the Free Trade Area of the Americas, include a “solid foundation” for automation in the trade process.
Any industry executives with an interest in Customs automation is encouraged to join TAPF. Members will receive newsletters, periodic research reports and automation updates. There will also be quarterly membership meetings and access to information on the group’s Web site (http://www.tapf.net), which will be launched later this week.
For more information, contact either Michael Eads, executive director, or Melissa Haslam, assistant executive director, of the group at (202) 463-8493.