name: CBP FinOps
description: >-
  U.S. Customs and Border Protection APIs and trade systems are provided as
  free government services. There are no direct API usage fees charged to trade
  partners or developers. Cost considerations are primarily indirect: staffing
  for certification processes, integration development, compliance software,
  and the customs duties/fees collected by CBP on behalf of the U.S. government
  (which are separate from API access costs).
costModel: Free government service — no API usage fees
directCosts:
  - item: AESDirect WebLink API Access
    cost: Free
    notes: >-
      No fee for API access. Certification is required but there is no
      application fee charged by CBP.

  - item: ACE Secure Data Portal Account
    cost: Free
    notes: >-
      Account registration and portal access are free. Third-party ABI
      software vendors may charge their own licensing fees for broker
      software that interfaces with ACE via ABI/EDI.

  - item: eAPIS Account
    cost: Free
    notes: >-
      No fee for eAPIS registration or manifest submission.

indirectCosts:
  - item: ABI Certification Software
    notes: >-
      Licensed customs brokers and self-filers must use certified ABI
      software (provided by third-party vendors) to connect to ACE via EDI.
      Third-party ABI software licensing costs vary by vendor and volume.

  - item: ACE Portal Third-Party Software
    notes: >-
      Many importers and brokers use commercial customs management software
      (e.g., Magaya ACeLink, CustomsCity) that integrates with ACE. These
      products carry licensing fees independent of CBP's own costs.

  - item: AESWebLink Certification Effort
    notes: >-
      Software vendors must complete CBP's AESWebLink certification process,
      which requires internal development and testing resources but incurs
      no direct CBP fee.

governmentRevenueContext:
  description: >-
    CBP is one of the largest revenue-collecting agencies in the U.S.
    federal government. It collects customs duties, excise taxes, and
    fees on imported goods on behalf of the U.S. Treasury. These charges
    (tariffs, Harbor Maintenance Fees, Merchandise Processing Fees) are
    paid by importers as part of customs entry filings processed through
    ACE — they are separate from, but enabled by, the trade APIs described
    in this catalog.
  merchandiseProcessingFee:
    description: >-
      Ad valorem fee of 0.3464% of the entered value of imported merchandise,
      with a minimum of $31.67 and a maximum of $614.35 per entry (2025
      rates; adjusted periodically). Filed as part of the ACE entry summary.
    url: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/mpf

resources:
  - type: FeeSchedule
    url: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/mpf
  - type: ACEPortalFAQ
    url: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/ace-faq