If an Activity Code 1- Basic Importation and Entry continuous bond will be transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pursuant to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) electronic bond system (eBond) test, using a CBP-approved Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), who must transmit it?
How to get there
ACE Business Rules and Process Document, 3.7: eBond Test Participant Transmission via EDI or EmailAll single transaction or continuous eBonds and eBond riders transmitted pursuant to this test must be transmitted to ACE electronically, either via the CBP-approved Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or emailed to CBP Office of Finance at [email protected] for manual input into ACE. The transmission of eBonds to CBP must be made by a surety or surety agent.
BRPD 3.7's table lists Activity Code 1 (Basic Importation and Entry) as eligible for single-transaction and continuous bonds, transmitted by the surety or surety agent via EDI or email. The answer is D.
Why the other choices are wrong
A) Port Director: CBP receives and accepts bonds. It doesn't transmit them.
B) Importer and C) Filer: the importer is the bond's principal and the filer (often a broker) files entries, but under the eBond test only the surety side transmits the bond itself. That keeps the obligor that is guaranteeing payment in control of what's filed.
Tip
The surety (or its agent) transmits the eBond; the principal (importer) is bound by it; the filer just references it on entries. Questions often swap these roles.
Source: ACE Entry Summary Business Rules and Process Document (Trade External v11.0), Chapter 3, Section 3.7.
CBP answer key: Answer D · ACE BRPD Chapter 3, Section 3.7Source: CBP past exams ↗