What is a Free Trade Zone?

Free trade zones are federally designated areas which are considered to be outside of the commerce and customs territory of the United States. Foreign and domestic merchandise may be admitted into zones for operations such as storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacture, redistribution, processing, and more. Companies are able to operate without being subjected to federal entry procedures or federal excise taxes, while minimizing involvement from other regulatory compliance agencies, including:

• Federal Drug Administration
• Federal Communications Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Energy
• Bridge Terminal Transport