Federal Trade Zone
What is a Foreign-Trade Zone?
A Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is a restricted-access location in which stored merchandise is considered to be in international commerce, not in the United States of America, for Customs purposes.
Because foreign-origin merchandise in a FTZ is considered still to be in international commerce, it may be:
- Stored or exhibited
- Repackaged or broken into smaller lots
- Mixed, manipulated or used in a manufacturing process
- Transferred into another FTZ with no liability or quota restrictions until it leaves the FTZ
Benefits of Foreign-Trade Zones
The FTZ allows users to:
- Defer, reduce or eliminate Customs duties
- Avoid “duty drawback” on returned or scrapper merchandise
- Increase logistics flexibility
- Move merchandise directly to the factory or warehouse with no clearance delay
- File customs entry paperwork weekly rather than on each container
Foreign-Trade Zone Number 138
Because of the access to markets from Greater Columbus, many of the companies currently located in the General Purpose Zones are involved in distribution. Wyandot County is located in this FTZ. Distribution firms which import products or export imported items can derive substantial benefits from the FTZ program. FTZ No. 138 also offers general purpose locations other than Columbus. The network consists of locations in Cambridge, Chillicothe, Lancaster, Lima, London, Marion, and Grove City. For more information view the
new FTZ #138 marketing brochure.