One-Government Release System '5 to 10 Years' From Being Implemented, COAC Member Says
A one-government release for imports from all agencies that regulate trade is something that likely will be developed over "the next five to 10 years and implemented potentially in that time frame and beyond," Tom Gould of Flexport said at the American Association of Exporters and Importers annual conference June 21.
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Gould, who serves on the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee, said he believes ACE 2.0 is something that could be developed into a 1USG platform but that CBP has publicly stated that they will not be starting development on ACE 2.0 until 2025 (see 2306200045). As a result, this is not something to expect in the "near term," Gould said.
One major reason this may take a long time is the lack of technology available to properly host a system that would allow for a one-government release, said Mike Mullen, executive director of the Express Association of America. If there were better technology, it is likely that "everybody would be a whole lot more comfortable stepping forward" and trying to activate a one-government release system, Mullen said.
He also said many agencies are afraid of paying for a system "that they're just not sure it's going to meet their needs." Mullen said a piece of legislation or an executive order may be needed to keep the project moving, noting that COAC also recommended an executive order. An executive order "would direct this whole range of 48 to 50 agencies to come together on a common project," Mullen said. "So maybe another executive order is the answer."
Gould, vice president of global customs for Flexport, also said an executive order may be necessary because getting a bill through Congress could prove to be difficult. "It would be much more difficult to get all those different committees of jurisdiction to push forward a single message," Gould said. "It's possible" that the congressional committees could agree, but the COAC thought "going with an executive order might be a more efficient way of getting an answer more quickly," Gould said.
When asked whether an executive order would be a quick fix, Gould said he was worried about the possibility of the order being overridden by a future order. Gould said he would prefer an executive order alongside legislation, but "we'll keep moving forward in both directions" and "take what we get."