Trade, tariffs and industry

Executive Order 13659: Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America's Businesses

President: Barack Obama

Directed agencies to complete a single electronic window for submitting trade data and speed cargo processing.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13659 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13659 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13659 do?

EO 13659 required departments involved in international trade to use the International Trade Data System through Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment by the end of 2016. Businesses could submit standardized import and export information through one portal rather than separate agency systems. The deadline was met and ACE remains core customs infrastructure, with continuing modernization.

Administration position: A single window reduces duplicate filing but does not eliminate inspections, duties, licenses or agency-specific admissibility requirements.
SignedFebruary 19, 2014
LeadTreasury and Homeland Security
Completion targetDecember 31, 2016

Before and after

Before the order

Traders often supplied overlapping information through separate paper and electronic systems across dozens of agencies.

After the order

ACE became the shared submission and processing environment for participating government agencies.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
CBPOperate and modernize ACEContinuing
Partner government agenciesConnect admissibility and licensing dataContinuing
Importers exporters and brokersFile applicable data electronicallyContinuing

What happened next

EO 13659 set the single-window deadline.

The government declared core single-window capabilities complete.