Foreign Trade Zone #129

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What is a Foreign Trade Zone?


Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) are secured, designated areas around the United States in or near a U.S. Customs Port of Entry (CPE) where foreign and domestic merchandise is generally considered to be in internationals commerce and outside of US Customs territory. Activated businesses in an FTZ can reduce or eliminate duty on imports and take advantage of other benefits to encourage foreign commerce with the United States. An FTZ can provide companies delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise as well as other savings. Many firms use FTZs to postpone and in the case of re-exporting, eliminate the applications of U.S. Customs laws that impose duties, taxes, bonds, quotas and other requirements. Domestic and foreign merchandise may be stored at the FTZ. It may be manufactured, displayed, sold or altered in almost any way that is not prohibited by U.S. law. FTZs are under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

Benefits of FTZs


There are many benefits to FTZ but they vary depending upon the type of operation involved and authority granted by the Foreign Trade Zone Board and Customs. Some of the benefits include:

Duty Exemption

  • No duties or quota charges on re-export (there are some exceptions for some exports to Canada and Mexico under NAFTA). No duty is paid on goods destroyed in the zone, which can benefit a company with fragile imports or with manufacturing processes that result in large amounts of scrape.

Duty Deferral

  • Customs duties and federal excise tax is deferred on imports until they leave the zone and enter the U.S. Custom territory. Zone merchandise may move in-zone or transfer Zone-to-Zone with payment of duty. There is not a limit on the length of time that merchandise may remain within the zone, whether or not duty is owed.

Duty Reduction

  • Where zone manufacturing results in a finished product that has a lower US Harmonized Tariff rate than the rates on foreign inputs, then the finished product may be entered into the U.S. Customs territory at the duty rate that applies to its finished condition. In addition, duty is not owed on labor, overhead or profit attributable to zone production operations.

To help you calculate your savings try the FTZ Savings Estimator Spreadsheet

The Port of Bellingham:  Grantee of FTZ #129 


The Port of Bellingham modified FTZ #129 to provide a new benefit for businesses in Whatcom County. The Port's FTZ is under the Alternative Site Framework (ASF). This will allow any new or existing companies within Whatcom County to secure Foreign Trade Zone status for warehousing and distribution operations within 30 days from the time an application is accepted. Manufacturing applications can be approved in 120 days. This is a new process that requires basic information on the company, its operation and location. Businesses can now secure approval for FTZ designation more quickly and at a lower cost.

For More Information


Zone Schedule 

National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones 

Visit the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board, which governs applications for FTZ activities, and contact John Michener at 360-676-2500.