New ACE error code 238 for e214 foreign trade zone admissions from September 17
CBP title: New Error Code for e214 Foreign Trade Zone Submissions Set to Deploy September 17, 2026, and Updates to CATAIR Appendix P and FTZ CATAIR
What did CBP announce?
CBP adds error code 238, FIRMS CODE NOT APPROVED FOR DIRECT DELIVERY, to ACE Appendix P for e214 foreign trade zone admissions. The code goes into ACE production on September 17, 2026, and is already in the certification environment. CBP also updated the ACE Foreign Trade Zone CATAIR chapter to clarify current requirements. CBP encourages zone operators with an FTZ Operator view in the ACE Portal to verify their Zone ID, FIRMS code and port code data.
What is Allied's position?
This change affects zone operators and the filers who submit e214 admissions for them. We do not operate or manage foreign trade zones, and clients who do not use a zone do not need to act.
Written by Allied CHB with AI (Claude) from the CBP message. General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
On September 17, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement a new error code for e214 Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) admissions in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Production environment. This change is currently available in the ACE Certification environment.
The ACE Appendix P – e214 FTZ Admission Error Codes document was updated to add the following error code:
- 238 - FIRMS CODE NOT APPROVED FOR DIRECT DELIVERY
In addition, the ACE Foreign Trade Zone chapter of the CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) was updated to clarify existing requirements. The documents can be found, respectively, in the “Appendices” and “Current Capabilities” sections of the ACE CATAIR (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/catair) webpage.
Trade parties that have an ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) account with the FTZ Operator sub-account view are encouraged to use the ACE Portal to verify the Zone ID, FIRMS Code, and Port Code information associated with the FTZ Sites they operate.
For technical questions, please contact your assigned CBP Client Representative or your local Port of Entry. For questions about this CSMS please contact CREM@cbp.dhs.gov (mailto:CREM@cbp.dhs.gov).