The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is a commercial trade processing system designed to automate border processing, enhance border security, and foster U.S. economic security through lawful international trade and travel. ACE is part of a multi-year U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) modernization effort. ACE will: allow trade participants access to and management of their trade information via reports; expedite legitimate trade by providing CBP with tools to efficiently process imports/exports and move goods quickly across the border; improve communication, collaboration and compliance efforts between CBP and the trade community; facilitate efficient collection, processing and analysis of commercial import and export data; and provide an information-sharing platform for trade data throughout government agencies.
View or download additional information: ACS/AES Direct User Guide (PDF format in a new browser window). ACS/AES Direct User Guide (PDF format).

ACE and Automated Systems:
CBP automated systems facilitate the electronic importing and exporting of goods. By the end of 2016, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) will become the Single Window - the primary system through which the trade community will report imports and exports and the government will determine admissibility. Through ACE as the Single Window, manual processes will be streamlined and automated, paper will be eliminated, and the trade community will be able to more easily and efficiently comply with U.S. laws and regulations.