Entry and clearance
ACE (Automated Commercial Environment)
ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) is CBP's electronic system for imports and exports. Brokers, importers and federal agencies use it to exchange trade data.
What does ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) mean?
ACE is the central U.S. system that processes imports and exports. CBP and the partner government agencies require importers and exporters to give detailed data through ACE.
CBP calls ACE the U.S. Single Window. It connects CBP, the partner government agencies and the trade at one access point. CBP uses it to collect duties, control imports and enforce regulations.
Filers send entries and entry summaries to ACE through ABI. The ACE Secure Data Portal is a separate web interface. Importers use it for reports, for ACH refund enrollment and for CAPE Declarations.
CBP adds functions to ACE in deployments, for example the entry type 13 test for mail in September 2026. CBP publishes ACE news in its Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS).
What does it mean for your shipment?
Open an ACE Portal importer account for your company, so that you can see your own entry data and enroll for ACH refunds. CBP pays IEEPA duty refunds only by ACH.
Allied CHB, licensed customs broker, CBP filer code 9AJ.
Where does this come from?
Related terms
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Trade News about ACE
- Oct 7ACE maintenance on October 8, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. ET may delay responses
- Oct 7ACE scheduled maintenance overnight October 10 to 11, 2026
- Oct 7CBP holds support call today on the Entry Type 13 mail test in ACE
- Oct 6Specialty sugar quota for 2027 over-subscribed at opening; prorated entries need re-transmission
- Oct 62027 refined sugar quota oversubscribed at opening, entries prorated at 51.03027%
All glossary terms · General information, not legal advice.