U.S. Customs and Border Protection reached another significant milestone in the push to modernize export manifest processing. On Aug. 26, CBP published the Rail Electronic Export Manifest Final Rule to require the advance submission of electronic rail export manifests in the Automated Commercial Environment’s Electronic Export Manifest system.

Available under CBP’s EEM Pilot, the move to make EEM mandatory for electronic rail manifest processing will continue to enhance cargo security and improve process efficiency by reducing antiquated submission methods. EEM’s automated data transmission technology ensures that CBP will receive more timely and accurate export data, enhance risk assessment and reinforce compliance standards.

CBP will continue to take proactive steps to strengthen enforcement and facilitate legitimate trade. The mandatory transition to EEM for rail export manifests means that CBP will get better data earlier in the export process, helping CBP personnel more effectively streamline legitimate trade and identify security risks. The Rail EEM Final Rule can be viewed at Federal Register: Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Export Manifest for Rail Cargo.

ACE is CBP’s automated system for processing international trade, including the collection of duties, taxes, and fees. ACE electronically connects the trade community, CBP, and other U.S. government agencies and is the primary system through which businesses transmit data required by the U.S. government to import or export goods.