Project

A. General Information

1. Title

U.S. CBP Global Business Identifier (GBI)

2. Status of the project
Pilot
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
Dec-2022
To
Feb-2027
4. Website
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/gbi
5. Geographical coverage
Global: Europe, Asia and the Pacific, North America, Latin America, Africa, Western Asia
Participating countries: United States of America
Hub Point: United States of America
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade; Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC)
Other participating agencies/entities
13 Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) including FDA; Dun & Bradstreet (D&B); GS1; Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF); Altana Technologies USG Inc.; Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC)
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
Over 50 Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) with border responsibilities under BIEC; Identity Management Companies (IMCs): Dun & Bradstreet, GS1, GLEIF, Altana Technologies
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Transport
Customs brokers
Customs
Other Government Agencies (OGAs)
Importers of record, manufacturers, shippers, sellers, exporters, distributors, packagers
8. Business process category of the project
Regulatory/official control
Supply chain traceability; Risk management; Entry filing

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

The GBI Test is an interagency trade transformation project that tests universal business identifiers to improve U.S. government visibility into imports and facilitate supply chain traceability within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

a. Objective(s)

To test and develop a single entity identifier solution for CBP and PGAs to achieve trade facilitation and trade security by obtaining deeper insight into legal structure of trade entities, understanding ownership, affiliation, and parent-subsidiary relationships, and replacing the outdated Manufacturer/Shipper Identification (MID) number.

b. Business need for the project (background)

The decades-old MID only includes importer name and address without being a managed, unique identifier. It failed to provide CBP and PGAs with quality, specific, and accurate supply chain insight. Modern global supply chains require innovative solutions to increase transparency and identify high-risk shipments.

c. Business process covered*

Entry filing process: Importers of record and licensed customs brokers voluntarily submit entity identifiers (GBIs) for manufacturers, shippers, sellers, exporters, distributors, and packagers with the CBP Form 3461 (Entry/Immediate Delivery) data transmission via Automated Broker Interface (ABI) in ACE for formal and informal entries.

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

The system operates within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the U.S. Single Window for processing trade data. Participants submit one or more of four identifiers: DUNS (9-digit), GLN (13-digit), LEI (20-digit), or Altana ID. CBP accesses underlying data from Identity Management Companies (D&B, GS1, GLEIF, Altana) to connect entries to complete entity ownership, structure, and affiliations.

e. Relevant document/figure
--
10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

- CBP Form 3461 (Entry/Immediate Delivery) data transmission - Entity identifiers: DUNS, GLN, LEI, Altana ID - Underlying GBI data including legal entity information, ownership, affiliations, business locations, supply chain roles - Entry type 01 (formal entries for consumption) and entry type 11 (informal entries)

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches

Hybrid approach using internationally recognized identifiers: DUNS (Dun & Bradstreet), GLN (GS1), LEI (GLEIF), and Altana ID (Altana Technologies). Data integrated within ACE database.

12. Main challenges faced during the project
--
13. Lessons learned from the project
--
14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Enhanced regulatory compliance*
Transaction Time savings
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
--
15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance
--
16. Future plan for expansion of the project

CBP envisions a future state where the U.S. government leverages identifiers to gain deeper visibility into global supply chains, enabling improved risk segmentation and admissibility decisions. The test will inform whether GBI becomes a mandatory requirement replacing the MID.

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

- The GBI Test was initiated based on direction from a 2018 BIEC Principals meeting - This represents the first public-facing BIEC initiative since ACE core functionality completion in 2017 - Test participation is voluntary; CBP does not plan to assess penalties for failure to submit GBIs during the test

18. Relevant document regarding the project
global-business-identifier-(gbi-slick-sheet.pdf

C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
- Executive Order 13659 (February 2014) - Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America's Businesses (establishing BIEC)
- National Customs Automation Program (NCAP), 19 U.S.C. 1411
- Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
EDI:
- Other EDI format: ABI (Automated Broker Interface) proprietary format within ACE
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
Proprietary solution
 
Proprietary solution was applied because:
- Need to adhere to existing ones, due to such reason as complying to requirements from partners and users
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
HTTP
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
International standard
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
TLS (Transport Layer Security) / SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
Digital signatures
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
International standard
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
Automated Broker Interface (ABI) within ACE for GBI data submission; GBI Enrollment database for participant registration
23B. Other technical implementation information
- GBI identifiers format: DUNS (9 digits), GLN (13 digits), LEI (20 digits), Altana ID
- Participants must enroll GBI identifiers via ABI prior to submitting on electronic entry
- ACE modified to accept one or more identifiers (previously required all three)
- OMB Control Number: 1651-0141