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Global Business Identifier Test Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the GBI Test FAQ page. To see the answer to one of the questions listed below, click the arrow next to that question. If you don't see your question answered above, please feel free to reach out to one of the support resources listed on our GBI Test page.

The Global Business Identifier (GBI) Test explores the functionality and effectiveness of universal identifiers as a tool to improve U.S. government visibility into imports and facilitate supply chain traceability.

GBI Test participants are at the forefront of change, informing customs adoption of supply chain traceability solutions to support a new era of trade. With an eye toward the future, GBI Test participants file identifiers to improve supply chain visibility, enable more efficient customs procedures, and benefit from more secure, streamlined trade operations.

Interested parties can send an email to the GBI Inbox (GBI@cbp.dhs.gov) with the subject line “Request to Participate in the GBI Test." A CBP representative will respond and arrange an introductory meeting. CBP will guide participants regarding the next steps, including obtaining one or more identifiers (DUNS, LEI, or GLN). Through their customs broker or as a self-filer, participants can provide one or more identifiers associated with manufacturers, shippers, sellers, exporters, distributors, and/or packagers of merchandise prior to them being used for Cargo Release via the ACE Automated Broker Interface (ABI) application.  

Participants can obtain identifiers from the partnering companies designated website.

The GBI Test will explore within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). For purposes of the GBI Test, ACE has been modified to permit participants to provide one or more identifiers associated with manufacturers, shippers, sellers, exporters, distributors, and/or packagers of merchandise covered by entries that meet the GBI Test criteria as stated in 89 FR 9859. You may refer to this list of vendors approved to submit transactions to CBP via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) to identify vendors that are already programmed to transmit GBI data.

  • The GBI Test was initially developed based on direction from a 2018 Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC) Principals meeting, where Principals agreed that an interagency GBI Working Group should consider a pilot concept for the continued exploration of a solution that enhances, augments or replaces CBP’s manufacturer/shipper identifier (i.e. the MID).
  • While the MID was meant to provide the U.S. government with information on the manufacturer and shipper associated with imported products, its failure to provide CBP and Partner Government Agencies with quality, specific, and accurate supply chain insight underscored the need for a GBI solution.
  • Following the direction of the BIEC, CBP initiated the GBI Test in December of 2022 with a focus on addressing the limitations of the MID.
  • In late 2023, CBP revamped the focus of the GBI Test to account for a wider realm of potential identifier use-cases, including opportunities to enhance supply chain traceability more broadly. Today, CBP envisions a future state in which the U.S. government leverages identifiers to not only receive better MID-equivalent data, but to gain deeper visibility into global supply chains—in turn enabling improved risk segmentation and admissibility decisions.

The FRN published on February 12, 2024, explains that prior to participating in the test, importers of record and/or licensed customs brokers should consult with the supply chain parties associated with merchandise they intend to import and obtain the necessary permissions to share their identifiers with CBP as part of the entry filing. While these arrangements can be made by either the importer of record or the licensed customs broker, it is likely that for many business models, the importer of record would consult with the supply chain parties and provide the GBIs to the broker to be filed along with an entry. These conditions are in place to discourage filers from pulling identifiers from an open-source database and transmitting them to CBP unbeknownst to the supply chain party.

It is not CBP’s expectation that GBI Test participants will provide entity identifiers mapping entire supply chains for each component of a multi-part import. Rather, consistent with the facilitative focus of the GBI Test, participants have the opportunity to provide verifiable identifiers for supply chain entities of their choosing based on what they believe will help indicate to CBP that a good is highly-compliant and low-risk. Participants are encouraged to draw from their own importation experiences and expertise as well as account for the common risk factors, U.S. laws, and other conditions that are relevant to the commodity, its parts, and the underlying supply chains. Some participants may be interested in mapping the full supply chain for one part of a good that is subject to higher scrutiny, while others may choose to identify just a few key parties for a higher quantity of parts.

Last Modified: Jun 04, 2024