The comprehensive Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Modernization initiative was launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of their ongoing efforts to improve trade processing and security.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is completing the final phase of its modernized ACE Portal by migrating user access management functionality to the updated system, which will go live on February 23, 2025.
Following this deployment, the legacy ACE Platform will be retired.
With the transition to the modernized ACE Portal, CBP aims to facilitate secure and efficient trade. It will also improve user experiences and strengthen national security through better cargo and vehicle inspection processes.
This transition will require all ACE Portal users to manage account access exclusively through the modernized platform. Once the migration is complete, the legacy ACE Portal will no longer support user access changes.
This fourth and final phase of the modernized ACE Portal initiative introduces new user management features, including the ability to add new users and assign access permissions, add existing users, search, view, and edit user details and permissions, and reactivate or revoke user access.
To ensure a smooth transition, CBP has advised Trade Account Owners (TAOs) and Proxy Trade Account Owners (PTAOs) to stop changing user access in the legacy system by 10 p.m. ET on February 19, 2025. No changes can be made to the system between February 20 and 22.
CBP will migrate the ACE Portal account user access management functionality to the modernized ACE Portal on February 22.
Starting February 23, all user management should be done through the modernized ACE Portal.
The four-phased modernization of the ACE Portal consisted of two key initiatives with the objective of facilitating trade operations and enhancing border security.
The first initiative focuses on modernizing the ACE Secure Data Portal and introducing a new user interface that simplifies and centralizes all ACE business processes.
This improved interface is designed to enhance the trade community’s experience and accessibility by providing easier navigation, better visibility into transactions, and more effective account management tools.
The second initiative focuses on improved truck manifest functionality, which assists both the trade community and CBP Officers (CBPOs) during truck processing at U.S. ports of entry (POE). This enables CBP officers to make real-time, data-driven vetting decisions.
CBP has published a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) outlining the ACE Secure Data Portal modernization and the ACE Truck Manifest Modernization (TMM) effort to ensure transparency.
This assessment provides public notice of the CBP’s initiatives while addressing the privacy risks and mitigation strategies associated with the agency’s use of personally identifiable information from members of the public.
To help trade users adapt to the modernized ACE Portal, CBP has made training materials available on the ACE Training and References webpage.
Additionally, CBP will host a Deployment Support Call on February 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET, which will be accessible through Microsoft Teams.
ACE Portal users are encouraged to join this call for a brief deployment status update and a Q&A session.
If you have any questions about the ACE Portal modernization or need support navigating the new system, please reach out to one of our trade professionals.